Tuskegee Airman Celebrated During Local Red Carpet Movie Event

Pomona, CA- The Pomona Valley Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. sponsored a “Private Red Carpet Movie Event” for the showing of the film, Red Tails about the famed “Tuskegee Airmen” during World War II. The special promotion offered admission into the showing of Red Tails, popcorn, drinks and especially the chance to meet and greet the legendary Airmen.

Tickets had to be purchased and paid for in advance. Seating was limited to the 500 the showroom could hold. Other things were going on at the Ontario Mills AMC Theatre, as usual for a Sunday afternoon in mid January. But all eyes would be on the spectactular event. After all people in the business of producing and promoting all kinds of movies & other entertainment had questions about what to do with Red Tails. The 500 seats were ‘sold out’ in advance. The community response was enthusiastic.

Being unfamiliar with the locale, I planned to arrive ‘early’ by 3:00 pm, but was delayed driving around and around seeking a parking space. Directions became easy, for all I had to do was to follow people who I thought ‘looked like me’ (only much younger & better looking). They already were collecting around tables inside the Ontario AMC Theatre where Delta members were checking people in and providing information. A press reception already was underway, upstairs, in a room that needed to be twice as large, jammed with photographers trying to get shots of the Tuskegee Airmen.

At the 5:00 pm time scheduled for beginning the movie, led by a cadre of JrROTC, The Tuskegee Airmen marched into the movie auditorium & were greeted by a standing ovation. Cameras and taking of photos in the movie screening rooms were banned by the theatre management.

Later, an interviewee said that he had already seen the movie Red Tails 4 times, but still gets “choked up”, each time. “This is a story that NEEDS to be told.!”

The PVC Deltas have scheduled their 33rd Annual Black Culture Festival for Saturday, Feb 25, 2012. They again have invited the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. & the Buffalo Soldiers as their featured guests. The Festival is free.