A member of the Tuskegee Airmen greets performers from “Black Angels Over Tuskegee,” a play coming to Lima Nov. 2 as part of the Community Enrichment Dinner.
Courtesy of blackangelsovertuskegee.com
LIMA — Organizers for this year’s Community Enrichment Dinner hope that attendees will be flying high as they honor some of America’s great wartime heroes.
The dinner, which will begin at 6 p.m. Nov. 2 at Lima’s Veterans Memorial Civic Center, will include preferred seating for the play “Black Angels Over Tuskegee,” a play centered around six men who would become part of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African American aviators in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
“We are proud to bring the Tuskegee Experience to Lima for the 2024 Community Enrichment Dinner,” CED Chairman Jerome O’Neal said in a statement. “This amazing story shows how a group of passionate people can achieve their dreams despite overwhelming obstacles. The Tuskegee Airmen’s story goes beyond race and is an inspiration to all of us.”
“This production, penned by playwright and actor Layon Gray, offers an evocative portrayal of the trials and triumphs faced by the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II,” Civic Center CEO Abe Ambroza said in a statement. “By bringing this remarkable show to our community, we honor the legacy of these brave men and provide a platform for dialogue and education.”
Speaking at an announcement for the dinner Tuesday at the Civic Center, CED board member Ann Miles expressed gratitude to all of the sponsors, including the Lima Procter and Gamble facility, the primary sponsor for the event, for helping to make the dinner possible.
“Because of P&G, many people will feel the experience of these heroes from yesterday and their struggles over adversity that brought us through and led us to freedom,” she said.
Other sponsors include the HY-HO Club of Lima, Your Hometown Stations, Bradfield Community Center, Toledo-based Stalwart Magazine, Custom Advocacy Partners and the Black Heritage Library and Multicultural Center in Findlay.
According to a release from the Community Enrichment Dinner, funds raised at the event go to help bolster programs that support diversity, equity and inclusion in the Lima region. Tickets are available for $90, $100 and $110 and can be purchased at the Civic Center box office or by going to http://www.cedlima.com.
