On Saturday, Nov. 8, veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will be honored at Peachtree City’s 2014 Veterans Day Observance hosted by the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Dixie Wing. The program will be held during the flying museum’s fourth annual Veterans Day Open House from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The open house and program is free to the public.
The open house will begin at 9 a.m. with tours of the CAF Dixie Wing Historical Airpower Facility museum and workshop where vintage aircraft are restored and maintained. Volunteers will be on hand to answer questions regarding current projects and education exhibits. A variety of vintage military vehicles and aircraft will be on display, including the CAF Dixie Wing’s World War II-era planes.
It is estimated that over 2.8 million Americans have served in Iraq and Afghanistan during the global war on terror beginning in 2011, with many servicemen and servicewomen serving multiple tours over the last 13 years.
Music Alive, Peachtree City’s official Ambassadors of Song, will perform patriotic songs beginning at 10:30 a.m., followed by a program that includes a launch of Dixie Wing aircraft at 11 a.m., recognition of local veterans and guest speakers that include masters of ceremonies Col. Bob Grove USAF, Ret. and Peachtree City Mayor Vanessa Fleisch.
New to the Veterans Day program is a flyover lead by Dixie Wing warbirds, scheduled for 12:30 p.m..
The CAF Dixie Wing was founded in 1987 as the 83rd chapter of the Commemorative Air Force. The all-volunteer organization has grown to 250 members that have restored and regularly fly six World War II aircraft. In addition to participating in over 20 air shows throughout the United States, the Dixie Wing hosts patriotic and educational events, as well as free tours for schools and youth groups.
Previous Peachtree City Veterans Day programs have honored veterans from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Veterans from all eras are encouraged to attend the program.
Veterans Day dates back to 1918, when President Woodrow Wilson declared November 11th Armistice Day to remember the sacrifices of the men and women made during World War I. After World War II, Armistice Day was expanded to celebrate all veterans. On June 1, 1954, congress approved replacing “Armistice” with “Veterans,” and it has been known as Veterans Day since.
The 2014 Peachtree City Veterans Day Observance is hosted as a public service by the CAF Dixie Wing in cooperation with the city of Peachtree City and Atlanta Regional Airport-Falcon Field. For more info, please contact CAF Dixie Wing Veterans Day Coordinator Mike McGowan, m36462@gmail.com or 678-364-1110. The website is www.dixiewing.org.
The Commemorative Air Force is a non-profit organization dedicated to flying and restoring World War II aircraft in Honor of American Military Aviation. Based in Midland, Texas, the organization has over 12,000 members and operates a fleet of over 157 vintage aircraft distributed to 83 units located in 25 states. For more information, visit www.commemorativeairforce.org
