For a moving moment just before Memorial Day weekend, we bring you the American Fighter Aces Association, whose fighter pilot members were honored this week with the Congressional Gold Medal for their service in WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Above, Speaker John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Rep. Sam Johnson and Sen. Joe Manchin applaud AFAA President Lt. Gen. Chick Cleveland.
More than 30 Aces attended the ceremony, which awarded them Congress' highest civilian honor. For two years, the Museum of Flight and American Fighter Aces Association worked to get Congressional recognition for the Fighter Aces. The project was conceived of and led by AFAA board member and Florida Friends of the AFAA president Dr. Gregg Wagner, he tells us, with the help of K&L Gates including government affairs analyst Judson Greif. Only fighter pilots who have shot down five or more enemy aircraft are known as American Fighter Aces.
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