×

Salem Post Office renamed in honor of late airman

U.S. Rep Bill Johnson, left, presents a plaque and proclamation re-dedicating the Salem Post Office as “Howard Arthur Tibbs Post Office” to the late airman’s sons, Phillip and Howard Anthony Tibbs. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

SALEM — The Salem Post Office has officially been renamed in honor of a prestigious Salem airman.

A ceremony Thursday afternoon saw the office officially re-designated the “Howard Arthur Tibbs Post Office” in honor of the late Tuskegee airman. An alum of the Salem High School Class of 1937, Howard enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force in November 1943, serving his country during the second world war until April 1946.

Assigned to the 619th Bombardment Squadron, as part of the 477 Bombardment Group, Howard’s squadron was activated in 1943, during which time he served as photographic laboratory technician, the predecessor to the modern public affairs specialists, and traveled to many bases across the nation, providing his unique and vital skills.

During his career Howard faced not just the nation’s enemies on the battlefield, but hatred and ignorance, employing his musical talents in performances with the military Army Air Force bands and United Service Organization shows at then still segregated bases and cities across the country. During his musical career Howard performed with musical icons of the day such as Duke Ellington.

One of three of Salem’s sons to serve as a Tuskegee airman, Howard was awarded the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal posthumously in 2007, with his family receiving a bronze replica. Howard has also been awarded the American Defense Service Medal for service between 1939 and 1941, the American Campaign Medal for service in theater outside the U.S., and the World War Two Victory medal for his service during the second world war.

In addition to his remarks U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson presented the Tibbs family with the official act of congress signed by President Joe Biden. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

Howard was also previously honored by the city in in 2022 with a proclamation declaring May 30 as Charles Howard-Howard Arthur Tibbs Day, and prior by the designation of West Second Street from Ellsworth to Jennings as Howard A. Tibbs Way, with signs reflecting the designation installed in 2021.

However, the renaming of the post office is amongst the highest of the many well-deserved honors that Howard has received, requiring introduction through a bill by a state representative, which must then be agreed upon by all the representatives of a state and receive congressional and presidential approval. This proposal, championed by Howard’s son Philip Tibbs, was introduced by U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, himself a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, and received final approval from President Joe Biden Dec. 27.

The ceremony saw the presentation of both the official proclamation signed by Biden to the Tibbs family and of a plaque honoring and acknowledging the life and service of Howard, and the new designation to be hung prominently within the post office. The ceremony also saw the presentation of further honor from the city, as Mayor Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey officially proclaimed June 1, 2023, Howard Arthur Tibbs Day in the city of Salem.

The ceremony featured remarks from Johnson; Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jack Marchbanks; U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. 910th Airlift Wing, Youngstown A-R Station Chief of Public Affairs Scott Allen; Dickey; USO Midwest Region Executive Director Nate Cross; Honorary Consul for the Government of Ireland James Lamb; United State Postal Service Northeast Ohio District Manager Susan Taylor; a representative of U.S. Sen. JD Vance; several members of the Tibbs family including his sons Phillip and Howard Anthony Tibbs; and a video message from U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown.

The enormity of the process required to have a post office re-dedicated in this manner, and the incredible importance and quality of the life and service of Howard proved to be a common theme amongst all the afternoon’s speakers.

Phillip Tibbs has championed the recognition and honor of not only his father Howard Tibbs, but his entire family and their legacy of service for years and said during Thursday’s ceremony that he always feels there’s more he can do to honor that legacy. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

Johnson joked that, “it’s not as easy as you think to get a post office renamed,” before noting that it had been his great fortune and honor to have met many Tuskegee airmen in his life.

“We owe that group of airmen a tremendous debt of gratitude,” said Johnson.

Johnson also described his opportunity to participate in the process of getting the post office renamed in Howard’s honor, and to take part in the re-dedication ceremony as “a great honor.”

The difficulty of the re-dedication process was most emphatically highlighted by Taylor who said that while ceremonies such as Thursday’s were by far the best part of her job, they were extremely rare. Taylor said that in her time as regional director, it was only the third instance of such a re-dedication.

Marchbanks, a friend of Phillip’s for decades, said his great uncle who was also a Tuskegee Airman was stationed on the same base as Howard and knew him personally. Marchbanks highlighted the importance Howard and the rest of the unit played during the ongoing fight for civil rights at the time.

Howard Anthony Tibbs, the eldest son of Howard Tibbs, was grateful to all in attendance and all the speakers at Thursday’s ceremony, saying that those assembled served to remind that those who have passed on remain with us. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

“Phillip and I have known each other for decades now, and over the years we’ve often discussed the importance of the Tuskegee Airmen not only as military heroes, but also as civil rights pioneers. They fought for what historians call ‘the double victory’ — victory over fascism abroad and victory over Jim Crow in the United States,” said Marchbanks.

Marchbanks also said that the “persistence and dedication” shown by Phillip during the re-dedication process “epitomized the conviction and decision of the Tuskegee Airmen’s mission statement — ‘Tuskegee Airmen, aim high, be prepared, never quit, and be prepared to win’ — and to the Tibbs family this is indeed a win. A win for you, a win for Salem, the state of Ohio, and the nation,” said Marchbanks.

Howard Anthony and Phillip both shared fond memories of their father and their gratitude for all those who supported the effort to re-dedicate the post office in Howard’s honor, and for all those who attended the ceremony and spoke.

“I am moved by this body of folks that have come together today to remind us that those who have passed on are still with us. They remain in our hearts, they remain by their actions, deeds done for the benefit of all. Public service, military service, loving kindness and compassion, those are some of the things I learned from my father; by the fact that he had a gentle hand, but a firm understanding of what it takes to be a person on this planet, in this age,” said Howard Anthony.

Phillip also highlighted the extensive history of his family and ancestors as prominent figures in service and duty, including his great grandfather Charles Howard, a veteran of the Grand Army of the Republic U.S. Union Army, serving nine months with Company F of the 32nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the civil war.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. 910th Airlift Wing, Youngstown A-R Station Chief of Public Affairs Scott Allen outlined Howard Tibbs’ years of distinguished service and the several awards he was presented for them. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

Phillip said that while many might consider him, a stellar son, and shepherd of his family legacy he did not agree. Phillip said that he feels he still hasn’t done enough to honor his family, and that there “is always more that can be done to honor their legacy.”

Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jack Marchbanks, a longtime friend of Howard’s son Phillip, highlighted the importance the Tuskegee Airmen had played not only as military heroes, but as icons of the ongoing civil rights movement. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

Following Mayor Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey’s proclamation of June 1, 2023, in the city of Salem Howard Arthur Tibbs Day, the official proclamation was presented to an emotional Tibbs family. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

Mayor Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey presented the Tibbs family with a proclamation officially declaring June 1, 2023, in the city of Salem Howard Arthur Tibbs Day. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

Brothers Howard Anthony and Phillip Tibbs, the sons of Howard Tibbs, were both grateful for the support of the community in attendance and the heartfelt remarks of the afternoon’s speakers during the re-dedication ceremony Thursday. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

Beautiful music, much like that which would have been performed by Howard Tibbs himself as part of USO shows, was provided at Thursday’s ceremony by the U.S. Air Force Band of Flight. Pictured from left are Master Sgt. Greg Pflugh, Senior Master Sgt. Christin Foley and Senior Airman Christopher Arellano. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today