By Associated Press
Washington, DC – The Tuskegee Airmen, a group of black pilots who fought in World War II, have been invited to attend President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration.
Carole Florman, a spokeswoman for the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, says Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-Calif., sent a letter Tuesday to Tuskegee Airmen Inc. asking them to attend. The Arlington, Va.-based organization represents 330 of the original pilots.
Each member will receive two nontransferable tickets. They have 10 days to decide if they will attend.
Feinstein, who chairs the joint committee, said in a statement the airmen helped remove race as an obstacle to public service.
Robert Rose, vice president of the organization, says members are ''elated and honored'' by the invitation.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)