5 REASONS TO TEE UP FOR A GREAT CAUSE:  ECCTAI'S ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC

Every swing tells a story. Every putt helps write a new chapter in a young person's future.

On July 27, supporters from across the region will gather at Norbeck Country Club in Rockville, Maryland, for the East Coast Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.'s 35th Annual General Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Golf Classic. More than a day on the links, the tournament is one of ECCTAI's premier fundraisers, helping preserve history while investing in tomorrow's aviation leaders.

Here are five reasons to be part of this year's event:

1. Your Participation Helps Future Pilots Take Flight. The Golf Classic directly supports ECCTAI's Herbert H. Jones Jr. Youth in Aviation Program and scholarship initiatives. The chapter invests more than $100,000 annually in programs that expose youth to aviation, aerospace and STEM careers. 

2. You Help Preserve the Legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen. By supporting the Golf Classic, participants help ensure Tuskegee Airmen's stories, achievements and values continue to inspire future generations.

3. You'll Join a Network of Leaders, Professionals and Community Champions. The tournament attracts business leaders, veterans, aviation professionals, educators, elected officials and community advocates who share a commitment to service and youth development.

4. You'll Enjoy a First-Class Day of Golf and Camaraderie. Set against the beautiful backdrop of one of the region's premier courses, Norbeck Country Club, players enjoy a premium golf experience, contests, prizes and excellent food.

5. The Return on Investment Extends Far Beyond the Fairway. A golf score lasts a day. The impact of your support can last a lifetime. ECCTAI alumni have gone on to become airline pilots, military aviators, air traffic controllers, engineers and other professionals. 

Register, sponsor or donate today and help keep the legacy moving forward. If you have any questions about the Golf Classic, please feel free to contact Golf@ecctai.org.

FAITHFUL TUSKEGEE AIRMEN FRIEND AND HISTORIAN DR. ALAN GROPMAN JOINS THE LONELY EAGLES 

We are deeply saddened at the passing of Dr. Alan Louis Gropman (1938 - 2026), a steadfast friend to Tuskegee Airmen, member of ECCTAI. A retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, college professor and author, Dr. Gropman served 27 years on active duty. After retiring from the Air Force as a colonel, he became a professor of history and grand strategy at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at the National Defense University. He later served as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University and George Mason University. 

Those wishing to honor Dr. Gropman's life and legacy may donate to the ECCTAI Educational Assistance program. Learn more about our dear friend Dr. Gropman on the Military Wiki and listen to this Library of Congress Veteran's History Project interview.