May 2024 Updates

Happy Memorial Day RDTAC!

Memorial Day is a holiday that honors those who died in the nation’s wars.  It originated as “Decoration Day”, a day to decorate the graves of Civil War soldiers with flowers.  It later expanded to include all members of the U.S. military who fought and died in service.  Along with honoring YOUR family members who served, let us honor the renowned Tuskegee Airmen.  The Tuskegee Airman was a group of African American military pilots (fighter and bomber) and airmen who fought in World War II.  They formed the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardments Group of the USAF.  The name also applied to the navigators, bombardiers, mechanics, instructors, crew chiefs, nurses, cooks, and other support personnel.  The Tuskegee Airmen was awarded 3 Distinguished Unit Citations, 96 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 14 Bronze Stars, 744 Air Medals, at least 60 Purple Hearts & 1 Silver Star.  Fly Red Tails, Fly!

RDTAC, please mark your calendars for the Annual Picnic to be held June 8th at 4:00 pm hosted by alumni Gary & Alicia Wiley at [Contact RDTAC For Address].  The Club will host alumni, current & future students.  We will also award the 2024 RDTAC Scholarship.  As always, there will be good food, fun and fellowship. Please plan to attend.  This will be our last meeting before the summer hiatus.  😊 

RDTAC, please see the attached email [Contact RDTAC For Email] from a student at Tuskegee University requesting financial assistance.  Please review and be prepared to vote you wishes in June.

Alumni, dues are now due.  Dues are $115, Couple and $75, Single.  Dues can be brought to the picnic or mailed to:  Melvin McCain, [Contact RDTAC For Address].  If you are not a member of the RDTAC, please consider joining the Club.  We are and continue to do great things for current students, future students, Alumni & our Mother Tuskegee!

Lastly, we are still congratulating our own Hadiya Harrigan who received her PhD in Mechanical Engineering in Material Science at Duke University this month.  Hadiya has served faithfully in the RDTAC since graduating from Tuskegee in 2018 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering.  In the RDTAC, she has served as the Secretary, Assistant Secretary,  Chair of the Technology Committee and developed & implemented the RDTAC website at raleighdurhamtuskegeealumni.com. Hadiya has also attended countless College Fairs with the President through the years.  Hadiya is still unsure of the future, but we know her future is bright!  We will keep you updated.  If you would like to send Hadiya a congratulatory card/gift, please mail it to:  [Contact RDTAC For Address].  She will be in Durham at least until the end of June.  😊
 
Enjoy your holiday weekend and see you in June!

Alicia F. Wiley, ’94 & ‘97

President,
Raleigh-Durham Tuskegee Alumni Club (RDTAC)
[email protected]
C (919) 270-6114