21st Annual Salute to Veterans Celebrates Memorial Day with Air Show and Ceremonies

21^st Annual Salute to Veterans Celebrates Memorial Day with Air Show and Ceremonies

Memorial Day weekend in the United States is fast approaching. Although the official holiday was declared by Congress in 1971, its history goes back to an observance of Civil War veterans in 1868. Over the years, observance of Memorial Day has declined in importance to the general public as measured by the number of people who participate in community events. This year can be the year to reverse that trend by supporting the 21^st Annual Salute to Veterans Memorial Day ceremonies and air show held in Columbia, MO.

The Memorial Day Weekend Salute to Veterans Corporation (referred to herein as Salute to Veterans) is an organization that produces a series of events throughout the holiday weekend, including the annual air show at Columbia Regional Airport. The corporation, consisting of over 3,000 volunteers, adheres to the following mission statement:

"To Honor and Remember those who served, those currently serving in our Armed Forces, Guard, Reserves and our Allies." (Mary McCleary Posner, History page of Salute to Veterans website).

There can be no more succinct way of expressing the noble mission of Salute to Veterans, and no more words are needed to understand that we should support their community events this year.

Salute to Veterans has a comprehensive set of activities planned for 2009 (see site for details):

Wednesday, May 20, 2009: Living History and Black Daggers Parachute Jump

Friday, May 22, 2009: Living History and Media Day

Sat, Sun, May 23-24, 2009: Salute to Veterans Air Show, Columbia Regional Airport

Monday, May 25, 2009: Salute to Veterans Parade and Courthouse Ceremony

The air show itself is dedicated to veterans by its very nature, featuring aircraft from World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam and modern conflicts. Canadian Armed Forces are also represented. There is also a 21-gun salute and the reading of names of Boone County veterans in the middle of the program. Along with the solemnity, there is also a home town feel to the occasion. Even with healthy attendance levels of friendly crowds (there could always be more!), there is plenty of time and room to move about, often catching pilots and crews for a quick word or autograph. The air show volunteers are always helpful, doing all they can to make your visit the best experience possible.

Expected air show performers and displays, with emphasis on warbirds, include:

Kansas City Dawn Patrol WWI Replicas, C-45 Expeditor, P-40 Warhawk, AD-5 Skyraider, P-38 Lightning,
TBM Avenger, SNJ Texan, P-51 Mustang, BT-13 Vibrator, PT-17 Stearman, F/A-18C Hornet, A-10A Thunderbolt II,
C-130 Hercules, P-3 Orion, F-15 Eagle, Aeroshell Aerobatic Team (T-6 Texans), CF-18 Hornet (Canada), Canadian Skyhawks

Honored guests include Robert "Hoot" Gibson, former astronaut and racing pilot, and Colonel Charles DeBellevue, America's Ace of Aces in Vietnam, among others.

More coverage on the air show will come before, during and after the event. Check the Salute to Veterans website for further updates: http://www.salute.org/index.shtm