Take Flight Leadership Aviation Student's in New Mexico 2011

Eyes In The Sky Murals By Jacqueline Withers

Artist: Statement
 The Murals are create in my own vision of how I see the Tuskegee Airmen Legacy .
I call them Eyes in the Sky because they owned the sky.

Mural Artist Jacqueline Dedicates Mural

DENVER CHILDREN’S HOME DEDICATES NEW MURAL

by Vince Saunders

(Denver,Colo. Oct. 23, 2006) Students at Denver Children’s Home (DCH) completed a 100 foot self-portrait mural project with local artist, Jacqueline Withers. 20 children worked on the project over the summer in the lower level of the Home.

The mural incorporates images of American’s rich cultural diversity with the students own reflections. The self-portrait mural promotes acceptance and respect for the differences which make our country strong. As Jacqueline worked with the children to create the mural she also taught them about inspiring Americans such as the legendary WWII Tuskegee Airmen. Representatives from the Denver Tuskegee Airmen chapter were present for the mural dedication.

The theme of this mural was America’s First Top Guns. Shedding light on a little known historical fact through her art, Ms. Withers taught the participating students that in 

September 1947, the United States Air Force, as a separate service, reactivated the 332^nd Fighter Group under the Tactical Air command. Two years later, 8 members of the reactivated 332^nd Fighter Group established themselves as the USAF’s First Top Gun Fighter Pilots. These pilots were members of the 332^nd Fighter Group Gunnery Team which won “Top 9 Guns” at the 1st annual USAF Fighter (William Tell) Gunnery Meet at Las Vegas Air Force Base, Nev., in May 1949. Through the artistic process the children learned about themselves, their heritage and each other. It is truly an amazing, inspiring work of art.

DTAs & First Top Guns, Lt. Colonel James H. Harvey, Colonel Fitzroy “Buck” Newsum and Colonel John Smith, all of the Denver Chapter, provide their autographs on the Wither’s Mural.

Jacqueline is an artist in action whose creative style has earned her numerous
awards and recognition. Her mural projects throughout Denver include the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library and the Swansea Elementary School. Jacqueline is a member of the Detroit Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. and a student at the Art Institute of Colorado in Denver.

BACKGROUND: Denver Children’s Home is the oldest nonprofit in Colorado. Throughout its 130-year history of service to the community it has adapted to meet the needs of the children and families who have turned to it for help. The mission is to provide a therapeutic, safe place for emotionally distressed children, 

Denver mural honors Tuskegee Airmen

Jacqueline Withers and her students stand in front of a mural that she and the students at the school painted early in the year.  The Excel Institute, 3050 Richard Allen Court

Honoring Tuskegee Airmen by painting a mural in their honor. Tuskegee Airmen Lt. Col Alexander Jefferson thanks students for their work on a mural designed by Jacqueline Withers executed by 6, 7, and 8th grade students at Excel Institute.

"Graduation" Take Flight Leadership Aviation 2010

Inspiring story of James H. Harvey III, the Tuskegee Airmen and the First Top Gun competition along with pages of aviation history and related links. This is the only source available to purchase collectible items commemorating the Tuskegee Airmen and their victory at the 1949 USAF Top Gun weapons meet. We welcome you to "Tuskegee Top Gu Tuskegee Airmen, Captain Alva Temple, 1st Lieutenant Harry Stewart, 1st Lieutenant James H. Harvey III and alternate pilot Halbert Alexander, competing in their P-47N Thunderbolts, would go on to win the USAF very "First Top Gun" Weapons Meet (also known as "William Tell" and "Gunsmoke") in May of 1949, at what would later become Nellis AFB. Accolades go to our Maintenance Personnel, because without them the missions could not have been flown with success. They were the Best in the USAF. A special thank you is extended to my aircraft crew chief (then Staff Sergeant) Buford Johnson.
It would be Lt. Col Harvey's natural abilities as a top aviator that would later distinguish him as the military's "First Black" Jet Fighter Pilot to fly missions over Korean Airspace. This website will present the inspiring story of James H. Harvey III, the Tuskegee Airmen and the First Top Gun competition along with pages of aviation history and related links. This is the only source available to purchase collectible items commemorating the Tuskegee Airmen and their victory at the 1949 USAF Top Gun weapons meet. We welcome you to "Tuskegee Top Gun."

Thank You Hubert L. "Hooks" Jones Chapter for supporting young pilots.

Lt. Col Harvey III, Tuskegee Airmen and the First Top Gun signs Bre' Aunne Crockett age 13-teen. The  Tuskegee Airmen Award Certificate

Take Flight Leadership Aviation

Take Flight Leadership Aviation program provides aviation education and scholarship resources for minority students who are interested in aviation careers. The program is developed by the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen and Bessie Coleman by giving underprivileged adolescents the opportunity to achieve their future aviation careers through workshops, exposure to countless aviation occupations, as well as professional responsibilities.

She has donated two murals to BCAL depicting Bessie Coleman and Ida B. Wells. She has painted over 50 murals in different State's school, churches, and Museums.

Jacqueline degree's BA, Design Arts and Management at AI The Art Institute of Colorado, Argosy University Master of Science in Management program Colorado, and motivational speaker. She volunteers to help children see beyond their dreams. To let them know that they can fly a plane. The Legacy of Bessie Coleman and the Tuskegee Airmen will live on through the Take Flight Leadership Aviation program.

The student's workshop is the Antique Airplane Association of Colorado at their Taylorcraft restoration workshops near Longmont. This is where the students learn how to build real airplanes with other students.

The requirements for receiving their wings include good grades, A or B average, and most of the students are in honor programs in school.  They are also involved in   community service, helping others, knowing the history of Tuskegee Airmen, and Bessie Coleman.  Here is the most important rule they must follow. They cannot get into any trouble or disrespect their parents, and must do all of their homework and household duties.

 Graduation the wings serve as motivation to keep the youth focused through the sacrifices they must make. I hope this program will help student's see beyond barriers. Their ages are 10-16 males and females.

This year our students got to go to New Mexico to see the Rocket Launch. It was a great experience. We hope to be apart of the next science project as soon as we find the money.

I would like to thank all my supports, and volunteer's who help keep the vision of education positive.

God is good I thank him for all of you that see the vision. I thank all my student's for letting me be apart of your lives. We will "Take Flight"