Portion of Charles Lindbergh Boulevard named in honor of Tuskegee Airman from Hempstead
Wheeler's family attended the ceremony on a section of Charles Lindbergh Boulevard, just in time to celebrate National Aviation Day. It is now known as William M. Wheeler Way.
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Aug 20, 2020, 12:59 AM
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Updated 1,485 days ago
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A lasting tribute has been unveiled in honor of Tuskegee Airman and longtime Hempstead resident William Wheeler.
Wheeler's family attended the ceremony on a section of Charles Lindbergh Boulevard, just in time to celebrate National Aviation Day. It is now known as William M. Wheeler Way.
Wheeler became one of the first Black pilots in the Air Fore back in 1941, facing discrimination and racism in the Armed Forces.
His son says Wheeler would continue the fight for equality to this day.
"Know that there is a straight line between the Black Lives Matter folks and other important groups such as Tuskegee Airmen," he says.
Thursday would have been Wheeler's 97th birthday.
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