Tuskegee Airman Tells Students To 'Have A Dream'

Isham Albert "Rusty" Burns, one of the original Tuskegee Airmen, was among the speakers at Palm Desert Charter Middle School's Career Day Wednesday.

"Being Career Day, I told the kids don't let anybody talk you out of doing what you want to and being what you want to be. That is the story that the Tuskegee Airmen can tell," Burns said.

Burns, who was in the 99th Fighter Squadron during World War II, now lives in Sun City Palm Desert.

He shared the struggle of getting to fly and into combat.

"The struggle that we had freeing the world and coming home to what we left here and the disappointment that we hadn't accomplished a thing here," Burns said.

The 86-year-old encouraged students to have a dream and a goal.

"It's OK if you want to be something today and something else next week. That's fine. But have something in your mind that you want to be," Burns said.

Palm Desert City Manager John Wohlmuth also came to Career Day and spoke to students about life in public service.

"I told them working in the public sector is rewarding and you can make a difference in your community," Wohlmuth said.

is located on Rutledge Way near Portola Avenue in Palm Desert.