(RALEIGH) -- North Carolina closed Black History Month by honoring living and recently deceased pilots who were among the famed Tuskegee Airmen.  The black men were forbidden from flying in the U.S. military, so they formed their own air units to fight in World War II.

Gov. Bev Perdue said their heroism came in spite of the prejudices of the day. "When the Tuskegee Airmen served, they simply were not treated right by the people of North Carolina and by the people of this country and perhaps by folks from around the world.  They were not appreciated as they should have been," said Perdue.

Four surviving Tuskegee Airmen were in attendance at Wednesday's ceremony at the old House Chamber in the State Capitol Building. They were awarded the state's two highest honors by the Governor: The Order of the Long Leaf Pine and Old North State Award.