Sentara sponsors RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit to share the history of the Tuskegee Airmen and Women Airforce Service Pilots

Sentara Health is one of the proud sponsors bringing the CAF RISE ABOVE^® Traveling Exhibit to the Manassas Regional Airport in Prince William County, Virginia on Tuesday, August 22 through Sunday, August 27, 2023.

CAF RISE ABOVE Squadron (formerly known as the CAF Red Tail Squadron) is an educational outreach program that brings to life the history and legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen and the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) – America's first black military pilots and their support personnel.

The free RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit features a fully functional mobile theater that shows two original short films telling the story of the Tuskegee Airmen and the WASP, and the obstacles they both overcame to be able to serve their country during WWII.

The exhibit inspires young people to rise above adversity and teaches guests about the CAF RISE ABOVE's Six Guiding Principles^© based on the experiences and successes of the Tuskegee Airmen and the WASP:

• Aim High
• Believe In Yourself
• Use Your Brain
• Be Ready to Go
• Never Quit
• Expect to Win

The timeless lessons they teach about perseverance and courage are just as applicable today as they were in the 1940s.

This immersive experience is housed in a climate controlled 53' semi-trailer with expandable sides and a 160-degree panoramic screen that creates the feeling of being in the cockpit soaring above the clouds. The exhibit space is equipped with a ramp and hydraulic lift to ensure access to all, comfortably accommodating 30 visitors for each showing.

The exhibit will include a restored P-51C Mustang - one of the Redtail airplanes made famous by the Tuskegee Airmen.

"This inspiring exhibit shares the story of some of our nation's bravest men and women and teaches us all about the importance of dedication, bravery, and the power of the human spirit to rise above diversity," said Jeff Joyner, president of Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center. "Sentara Health is proud to be among the event sponsors bringing this exhibit to Prince William County."

Lead sponsor for the CAF RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit is the Epsilon Sigma Boule Foundation.