HOUSTON – In observance of Juneteenth, United Airlines hosted 100 students from Houston Independent School District and Aldine Independent School District at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) for a day of aviation activities.
United said that, by spotlighting the holiday, the airline hopes to “mold the next generation of diverse aviators.”
Students who have never stepped foot in an airport or taken a flight will fly across the Houston-Galveston area overlooking key markers where the last enslaved individuals were granted their freedom on June 19, 1865. During the flight, students heard a narration on the significance of Juneteenth and its importance in relation to Black history and Texas history, voiced by Radio One personality KG Smooth.
Students also heard remarks from United executives and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, along with a special pre-recorded message from Ms. Opal Lee, the “grandmother of Juneteenth.”
The flight was followed by a day-long career fair, including an all-access visit with pilots, maintenance technicians and airport operators.
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