St. Patrick students sang songs and highlighted past black inventors, celebrities and Civil War heroes during the school’s Black History Month celebration Wednesday. The event featured an inspirational talk from retired Tuskegee Col. Palmer Sullins Jr., who spoke to the children about the past as a way to shape their own futures through innovation, determination and inspiration.

 

Students started the event with presentations about past and current black innovators who broke barriers, created life-altering inventions and worked to improve the world through religion, politics or activism.

 

Sullins, who piloted 300 support missions in Vietnam, reminded the students that anything is possible.

 

“There are more things you can do if you aren’t interested in being a pilot,” he said. “There are numerous careers, such as mechanics, nurses, administrators – there are many things you can do to help the country and the world.”

 

Sullins, the uncle of two St. Patrick students, is a 1968 graduate of the Tuskegee Institute and was born and raised on the campus as well. He flew combat support missions in CH-47s with B Company 228th Assault Support Battalion, First Calvary Division at Bear Cat, RVN. He also flies helicopters and has earned at Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Legion of Merit Medal and 13 air medals, just a few of his commendations.

 

“The legacy never goes away,” Sullins said. “Tuskegee is hallowed ground because it’s where the pilots walked, where they trained.”

 

Sullins shared photos on a screen of his career with the children, who barely moved while he spoke.

 

“You can be whatever you want to be,” Sullins said, looking each child in the eye and pointing, before smiling gently. “Just be the best there is.”