Gregory Rubio of Boy Scout Troop 281 poses with Tuskegee Airmen Heritage Chapter of Greater Sacramento members in front of the newly-unveiled memorial signs. Photo courtesy of Cordova Recreation & Park District

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - On Sept. 7, community members celebrated the unveiling of a set of informational signs installed by Boy Scout Gregory Rubio from Troop 281 in Cordova Recreation & Park District’s (CRPD) Veteran’s Park.

The ceremony garnered more than 200 attendees between Facebook Live viewers and community members at the event, including Tuskegee Airmen Heritage Chapter of Greater Sacramento members, Cordova Recreation & Park District staff and community members.

A line-up of speakers shared remarks about the historical significance of the project, including Rubio and several Tuskegee Airmen Heritage Chapter of Greater Sacramento members.

“(The Tuskegee Airmen) fought a war but they fought an even bigger war for rights: the right to vote, the right to go to school. Some of these men could have been shot if they went off their base,” said Tuskegee Airmen Heritage Chapter of Greater Sacramento President Howard Williams. “By doing this (project), you are doing an honor to the men who served many years ago under not only unfavorable conditions but harmful conditions. Some of these men and their families, you don’t read about them now, they don’t teach about them in schools.”

In June 2023, Rubio approached Cordova Recreation & Park District with an idea for his Eagle Scout project. Rubio proposed creating a memorial to honor the Tuskegee Airmen, the legendary group of Black Air Force pilots who served in Europe during World War II.  Rubio’s vision centered on the creation of memorial signs to share the remarkable story of the Tuskegee Airmen, with special focus on their connection to the local community.

Gregory Rubio poses with his father and troop leader, Phillip Rubio, in front of the memorial signs. Photo courtesy of Cordova Recreation & Park District

Veteran’s Park, located near Mather Air Force Base where a squadron of the Tuskegee Airmen were stationed, was the perfect site for this tribute.

After Rubio’s initial outreach to Cordova Recreation & Park District, a partnership quickly developed. Cordova Recreation & Park District worked alongside Rubio to guide the project through the approval process, helping him refine his proposal, set expectations for the monument’s design and determine the ideal location for the memorial signs within Veteran’s Park.

As the project took shape earlier this year, Rubio did research on the Tuskegee Airmen. Rubio collaborated with the Tuskegee Airmen Heritage Chapter of Greater Sacramento to ensure the memorial content’s historical accuracy, while Cordova Recreation & Park District’s communications team worked with Rubio on the sign’s visual design.

The memorial is composed of three panels, each sharing information about the history of the Tuskegee Airmen, their societal impact and their relevance in local history. Photo courtesy of Cordova Recreation & Park District

The signs were ordered in May and installation preparations began. Rubio, with his troop members, family and Cordova Recreation & Park District staff, installed the memorial signs on Aug. 24 at Veteran’s Park.

The new memorial stands not only as a testament to the Tuskegee Airmen’s extraordinary service but also as an example of what can be achieved when a young leader and a community come together, according to the Cordova Recreation & Park District staff.

Thanks to Rubio’s hard work and collaboration with Cordova Recreation & Park District, Veteran’s Park now serves as a place of remembrance for the Tuskegee Airmen’s legacy.