When 87-year-old Franklin Macon thinks of his Tuskegee Airmen medal, he's reminded of how fortunate he was to receive his wings in a time when the military resisted black pilots. When the medal - awarded to famed World War II black pilots - was stolen from his house during a break-in on May 31, he didn't expect to get it back.
A laptop and coins stored in old amno cans also were taken from Macon's home. No one has been arrested and the medal has not been recovered.To Macon, the bronze replica of the Tuskegee Airmen Congressional Gold Medal symbolizes how far minorities have come since the 996 pilots graduated.Wood is still by far the most common material used to make bookcases. It's sturdy, handsome and traditional. Libraries often use metal shelves, but these lack the aesthetic appeal that most people want for their homes. Bookcases made of granite, marble or other materials are on the market, but their expense prevents them from being widely used.He didn't imagine then that there would one day be black airline pilots, and said Eleanor Roosevelt helped break the barriers for blacks pursuing aviation.Some innovations have been made, however. A fairly recent shift in bookcase design has the shelves at the bottom much deeper than the ones at the top, tapering up as they go. This design, aside from being visually appealing, is great for homes with small children because it makes it virtually impossible for the bookcase to be tipped over.Assess how much time you will spend working there. Is this your main office space, or is this just a work area to complete and check daily work and pay household bills? Besides a work surface or desk, consider what else you want, such as bookcases, storage, filing space, computer, electronics, lighting and appropriate seating.At some point, when we have outgrown the dining table as a work surface and if we have a spare room, we imagine a home office. Designing that work space should be an exercise in both function and aesthetics.Aesthetic considerations are next. Your selection of wall colors, the finish on your case goods, such as desks and cabinets, and flooring - whether carpet, wood or tile - will determine the feel of your office. Do you prefer a warm clubby library, a cool high-tech contemporary look or sophisticated high-style glam feel? It's up to you.Macon received his pilot's license in 12th grade. Several months after completing basic training with the Army Air Corps, he went to flight school in Tuskegee, Ala. A ruptured ear drum left him hospitalized in 1945, and when he was released, World War II was over. Macon taught gunnery to the remaining students, but never served in combat.Macon came home in late May to find the framework of his front door splayed across the living room and the medal missing from its spot on a bookcase among other Tuskegee Airmen memorabilia, including a wooden model of a plane he flew in training."I looked over to where I had the medal and it was gone. I said, 'Oh brother,'" he said.
"I'll probably put a picture of it where it used to be," he laughed.
Author: ANGIE JACKSON
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