Alice Abbott and Ed Williams said the movie they saw Saturday at Wiscasset Municipal Airport encouraged them about what a person can accomplish if they persevere.

“If you set your mind to it, you can overcome anything,” Williams said.

The Edgecomb couple, both pilots, keep a single-engine Cherokee cruiser at the airport. They had just viewed the Commemorative Air Force’s (CAF) traveling “Rise Above” exhibit on the black World War II squadron, the Tuskegee Airmen. The squadron served before desegregation of the U.S. military.

“They were held to a higher standard. They were so good, because they had to be,” Abbott said when asked what she learned. The movie was fantastic and had a positive spirit, she said.

The squadron’s story gets at a point that’s relevant today, Gordon Kontrath of Wiscasset said. “People need to be aware of their opportunities and not waste them ...,” he said.

Inspiring people is the goal of the exhibit, according to the CAF’s Terry Hollis of Columbus, Mississippi. He and wife Jeanette travel the country as the exhibit’s tour managers.

“We want them to understand what all the Tuskegee Airmen went through (and) still succeeded. These guys had a lot more to overcome in life than what (people) will ever have to in today’s society ... They couldn’t drink from the same water fountain as white people. They couldn’t eat in the same restaurants,” Terry Hollis said. “They were just treated like second-class citizens ... They had to take secondhand medical supplies, as a unit.”

Veterans and the general public are proud that the squadron is now getting its long-due recognition, Hollis said. “They say, ‘We’re glad you guys are doing this ... We wish it’d been done a long time ago.’”

Events like Saturday’s help educate young people on the wars the U.S. has fought, Mid Coast Maine Veterans Council Cmdr. Steve Jarrett of Wiscasset said. “This is one way for them to learn what actually took place.” he said. “This is something that needs to be done more often.”

In a ceremony, the council and American Legion Post 54 of Wiscasset awarded Walter E. Coombs a certificate honoring his service during the Vietnam War; and presented Wiscasset’s Doris Pendleton, 86, with one certificate for her late husband Maurice Pendleton’s service during World War II and another for their late son Peter Pendleton’s service during the Vietnam War.

“Thank you very much,” she said in accepting the awards from Jarrett and Post 54 Cmdr. William Cossette Jr. Joining her in front of the crowd were sons Brian and Jeff Pendleton and Post 54 Chaplain Dale Skillin.

In interviews, Skillin said he was very glad to see her receive the honors. Pendleton is like an adopted mother to him, he said, smiling. And Pendleton said, “I’m just so happy to see so many people I know here.”

The Maine Aeronautics Association arranged the daylong event that had a fly-in and ground display of vintage and newer aircraft; Westport Catering’s steamed hot dogs; sun; a light breeze and jazz.

The MAA worked tirelessly with the town, the town-owned airport’s manager, Frank Costa said. “I’m very excited having such a nice presentation with such historical relevance. It’s extremely nice for the airport,” Costa said.

Javier Gonzalez, 12, of Seattle, Washington was taking in the Volunteers Jazz Band’s performance. “They’re amazing,” the young jazz trumpet player said. “They swing really well.”

He and brother Sammy Gonzalez, 6, attended Rise Above with their father Carlos Gonzalez, a longtime plane buff with a Stanford University degree in aeronautics and astronautics. The family was visiting relatives in Bath.

Ron and Mona Chipman of Harpswell were enjoying the band, as well. They danced to one number after another. “It’s very good,” Mona Chipman said about the music.

The band plays veterans’ events for free, director Lynn Kinney said. One member cut short a Vermont trip to make the Wiscasset event; another came home overnight from Connecticut to be there, Kinney said.

Lewiston High School’s J.R.O.T.C. served as color guard Saturday. “It means so much coming here,” honoring the veterans and history, and seeing that youth can aspire to do something great, Magdalena Elwell said.

Regarding the veterans, fellow color guard member Lindsey Crawford said: ”We’ll follow their lead, and hopefully one day fill their shoes.”