Speech given by Ato Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO, Ethiopian Airlines at the 60th Anniversary Memorial Luncheon in Remembrance of the late Colonel John C. Robinson.

Addis Ababa, March 27, 2014

Speech given by Ato Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO, Ethiopian Airlines at the 60^th Anniversary Memorial Luncheon in Remembrance of the late Colonel John C. Robinson.  _________________________________________________________________

Your Excellency, President Girma Worlde Girogis

Author Thomas E. Simmons

Distinguished Guests

Ladies & Gentlemen:

On behalf of the Ethiopian Airlines family and myself, please allow me to express my gratitude and pleasure to be part of the 60^th Anniversary Memorial Luncheon in Remembrance of the late Colonel John C. Robinson who shared his reflective experience of piloting for the Ethiopia Air Force where he was bestowed a military rank of ‘Colonel’ for his noble deed.

As you all know, Ethiopian Airlines was established back in 1945. The commemoration of the 60^th memorial of Col. John C. Robinson reminds us how Ethiopian Airlines started its operation with a DC-3 when Africa was at the beginning of experiencing transportation in flying aircraft.  Indeed, it can be concluded that Colonel John Robinson was one of the few African Americans who made our dream come true in flying our own aircraft with our own young men and women.

To sum up, I would like to honor your thoughts in arranging this remarkable memorial ceremony to herald the untold story of Colonel Robinson, and my sincere gratitude goes to Thomas Simmons, the author of The Man Called Brown Condor that will be a great treasure for the coming generation.

Thank you,

Ato Tewolde Gebremariam