Our President as 7 Every Day Hero
Gilbert F. Wheeler Jr. ,President
As an active member of the Tuskegee Airmen organization, Gilbert F. Wheeler Jr. has had the privilege of working closely with some of the original members. As CEO of "On Laughter Silvered Wings", he has had the thrill of providing over 2,000 children the opportunity to fly an airplane, experiencing the joy of flight. Mr. Wheeler’s enthusiasm for his work is obvious and has very personal origins. "As a kid growing up in the projects of Washington, D.C., all I ever wanted to do was fly. In those days and even today, not many Blacks flew. I was told by many people, ‘Black people do not fly airplanes’ but the passion for flight never left my dreams. Now…I have my pilots license.”
The "On Laughter Silvered Wings" organization was started to give children with less economic means the opportunity to become involved in aviation. They are presently building a full scale airplane which when completed, will be used to teach children how to fly. The organization is also preparing a group of children for the Reno air races. For the first time ever, the children will be helping with airplanes in the pit. Mr. Wheeler would like to see "On Laughter Silvered Wings" eventually become a foundation.
As for the challenges facing the African American community, he commented, “The rich and the poor need to help one another…We need to make a louder noise in praising our past and becoming mentors to our kids.” Further, he feels that neither the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, nor the 10 members living in the Denver community get the recognition they deserve. He strongly believes, “There should be a permanent bronze statue or some prominent monument for their contribution.”
He would like to be remembered as “the man who inspired kids to accomplish their dreams. I want to instill in them that whatever they want to do in life, they can as long as they learn to set goals and stay focused.”