Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich Joins Tribute Honoring Tuskegee Airman and WWII Veteran Brigadier General Charles E. McGee by the Distinguished Flying Cross Society

For Immediate Release: Friday, December 6, 2024

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich Joins Tribute Honoring Tuskegee Airman and WWII Veteran Brigadier General Charles E. McGee by the Distinguished Flying Cross Society

Memorial Unveiling Occurs Days Before What Would Have Been Brigadier General McGee’s 104th Birthday

County Executive Marc Elrich, County Councilmembers and other state and federal elected officials joined the Distinguished Flying Cross Society ( DFCS ) on Thursday, Dec. 5, for a ceremony to unveil a memorial honoring the late combat veteran Brigadier General Charles E. McGee. The event took place at the Brigadier General Charles E. McGee branch of the Montgomery County Public Libraries in Silver Spring. Brigadier General McGee, a proud resident of Montgomery County who passed away in 2022, is being remembered just days before what would have been his 104th birthday on Saturday, Dec. 7.

“Brigadier General Charles McGee’s extraordinary service and leadership continue to inspire us all,” said County Executive Elrich. “We are honored to celebrate his legacy here in Montgomery County, a place he proudly called home, and to recognize his lasting impact on our nation’s history and the future of young leaders who continue to look up to him. It is fitting that this memorial is in the library and in a place where it will be seen by many so that his contributions are remembered by children and adults who may not know this history.”

More than 50 individuals attended the ceremony, including representatives from the Eastern Region of the Tuskegee Airmen, the Boy Scouts of America and the Montgomery County Commission on Veteran Affairs. The Young Marines served as the event’s color guard.

“As a famed Tuskegee Airman who flew over 400 combat missions, Charles McGee didn’t just break records– he broke barriers. That is why I worked to honor his heroism by authorizing his honorary promotion to the rank of Brigadier General. This memorial will help serve as a reminder of his life’s work: defending our country and demanding that it live up to its full promise,” said U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).

During the ceremony, a monument commissioned by the DFCS was unveiled. Military leaders, including General Ronald Fogleman and Lewis Watt, a Vietnam War veteran and Distinguished Flying Cross recipient, participated.

“The Distinguished Flying Cross Society thanks the officials of Montgomery County for allowing our representatives to host the dedication of a National Distinguished Flying Cross Memorial at the McGee Library, in honor of the legacy of Brigadier General Charles McGee,” said J. Bruce Huffman, chairman emeritus of the DFC Society. “This dignified event is in keeping with our mission to ‘honor, preserve and teach’ the legacy of our members who are recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross.”

Brigadier General McGee, a trailblazer in American military history, was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first all-Black combat aviator group in the United States Army Air Forces. Throughout his distinguished career, he flew 409 combat missions across three wars—World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. His exceptional service earned him numerous honors, including two Legion of Merits, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Bronze Star, 26 Air Medals and the Congressional Gold Medal.

“As the Councilmember representing Silver Spring, I am proud to have our local library named after Brigadier General Charles McGee,” said Montgomery County Council President Kate Stewart. “We are delighted to see the new memorial for General McGee installed and appreciate the work of the Distinguished Flyers Cross Society in honoring his service.”

Beyond his military accomplishments, Brigadier General McGee continued to lead after retirement. He served as director of the Kansas City International Airport and worked to preserve and promote the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen through public education and the entertainment industry. His personal mantra, “Perceive, Prepare, Perform and Persevere,” remains a source of inspiration for future generations.

“The Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Memorial is about more than honoring a hero—it is about sharing a story of resilience, bravery and service with our community,” said County Council Vice President Will Jawando. “For years to come, every person who uses the Library in Silver Spring will have the opportunity to learn about a true American hero. His life reminds us that with courage and integrity, we can overcome any challenge and make the world a better place.”

In February 2022, shortly after Brigadier General McGee’s death at 102, Montgomery County renamed the Silver Spring Library in his honor .

“Brigadier General Charles McGee embodied the value of lifelong learning that drives the mission of our Montgomery County Public Libraries today,” said District 5 County Councilmember Kristin Mink. “In Montgomery County, we honor General McGee every day by joining in the important work of teaching the complex and sometimes uncomfortable history of our County and country and by supporting our public libraries in their vision of supporting lifelong learning for all of our residents of every background and origin.”

The memorial is on the third floor of the Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Library, located at 900 Wayne Ave. in Silver Spring.

Click here for edited video segments from the event. Click here for the Flickr photo gallery.

Release ID: 24-552
Media Contact: Barry Hudson 240-300-7348
Categories: Library

For updates and link to press release, see here: http://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Press_Detail.aspx?Item_ID=46287