The honors continue for Brig. Gen. Charles McGee, the Tuskegee Airman who died on Jan. 16 at the age of 102.
Montgomery County, Maryland County Executive Marc Elrich signed an executive order on Feb. 28 renaming the Silver Spring Library the Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Library.
“There is no better way for us to conclude Black History Month than by memorializing a Montgomery County resident who was an American hero, a trailblazing African American, and a man who lived an extraordinary life,” said Elrich. “We are renaming this building for Brig. Gen. McGee because of the example and opportunities he provided to the generations who followed in his footsteps.”
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Elrich was joined at the ceremony by Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando, Montgomery County Public Libraries Director Anita Vassallo, the Montgomery County Commission on Veterans Affairs, the Tuskegee Airmen, members of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, McGee family members, and others.
Jawando called McGee a man of honor, integrity, and kindness.
“It had been my great honor to get to know him and his family over the last 20 years. The General fought against racism and for equality his entire career and served as a mentor and role model to me and so many others in our county,” he said.
McGee served as a fighter pilot and member of the 332nd Fighter Squadron, the “Tuskegee Airmen,” an all-Black unit that shot down over 250 Axis planes during World War II.
During his 30 years of military service, McGee logged just over 6,300 flying hours and flew 409 combat missions, ranking him as one of the most prolific combat pilots in American history. He flew at least 100 combat missions in both the Korean and Vietnam wars.
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McGee retired as a colonel in 1973 and received an honorary promotion to general in 2020 from then-President Donald Trump as part of a 100th birthday celebration hosted at the White House.
A Montgomery County resident for many years, McGee prioritized learning and engaging with young people.
A dedication ceremony for the building will be held later this year.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.