SEATTLE, Nov. 1, 2016--The Museum honors United States military service personnel on Veterans Day, Nov. 11th. All U.S. veterans and current U.S. military personnel will be admitted to the Museum free of charge. Events get underway with the fly-in arrival of a U.S. Army Boeing CH-47D Chinook helicopter, live music at 11 a.m., a Veterans Day ceremony with Washington Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Bruce C. Linton at noon, and a 2 p.m. discussion program about the Grumman A-6 Intruder aircraft and its operations during the Vietnam and Desert Storm conflicts. The speakers include A-6 aircrew combat veterans, including bestselling author of "Flight of the Intruder," Stephen Coonts. Following the program there will be a dedication ceremony of the A-6 Intruder Memorial Tribute in the Museum's Aviation Pavilion.
Veterans Day Schedule
Friday, Nov. 11
10:30 a.m. - Estimated arrival of U.S. Army Boeing CH-47D Chinook. Helicopter will stay in Museum's East Parking lot, with Chinook crew giving free tours to Museum visitors.
11a.m.
Music
Patriotic musical performance with the Boeing Employees Stage Band
Noon
Ceremony
Veterans Day Ceremony with color guard, Speakers include Mayor of Tukwila, Allen Ekberg, and keynote speaker Washington Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Bruce C. Linton.
2 p.m.
A-6 Discussion
Panel discussion about Grumman A-6 combat operations during the Vietnam and Desert Storm conflicts. The panel includes former A-6 aircrew combat veterans retired Marine Brig. Gen. Bruce Byrum, retired U.S. Navy Captains Greg Wood and Butch Bailey, and retired Navy A-6 aviator, author Steve Coonts.
4:30 p.m.
Dedication Ceremony for A-6 Intruder Memorial Tribute
Bestselling author and former A-6 Intruder Naval aviator Stephen Coonts leads a ceremony dedicating a sculptural column in the Aviation Pavilion that commemorates the legacy of aircrew and maintenance personnel in the Intruder community. The 7-ft. pillar was donated by the national Intruder Association, and is located next to the Museum's A-6. Its laser-etched granite panels depict the highlights of the history of the A-6 aircraft, its capabilities, and the insignia of those Navy and Marine Corps units that operated this all-weather attack aircraft.
The CH-47D Chinook Helicopter at Museum on Veterans Day
The big CH-47D-nicknamed My Old Lady-is the oldest flyable Chinook in the world-wide Army inventory. It was built in 1962, and on Jan. 9, 1963 it became the fifth Chinook accepted by the U.S. Army. The helicopter is currently based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma.
The aircraft (91-00261) has served with the Army and Army National Guard, including combat missions in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan. It has been with the Washington state Army National Guard since 2009, serving in support of several domestic emergencies, most recently the Okanogan Complex Wildfire in 2015. My Old Lady will be retired to The Museum of Flight (date to be determined) and placed on permanent display in the Aviation Pavilion.
Veterans Day Weekend Program
"Beauty and Duty" - Women's Military Uniforms
Saturday, Nov. 12
2 p.m.
Museum of Flight Living History performer Alice Miller will present authentic women's military uniforms from World War I to Vietnam. Miller will speak about the history behind each uniform, and about the women who proudly wore them. The uniforms will be modeled with Living History performers.
Image: World War II veteran fighter pilot Al Jones and grandson strike a pose at The Museum of Flight in front of a plane Jones loved the fly: the F-86. Ted Huetter/The Museum of Flight.
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Founded in 1965, the independent, non-profit Museum of Flight is one of the largest air and space museums in the world, serving more than 560,000 visitors annually. The Museum's collection includes more than 160 historically significant airplanes and spacecraft, from the first fighter plane (1914) to today's 787 Dreamliner. Attractions also include the original Boeing Company factory, and the world's only full-scale NASA Space Shuttle Trainer. The Museum's aviation and space library and archives are the largest on the West Coast. More than 150,000 individuals are served annually by the Museum's on-site and outreach educational programs. The Museum of Flight is accredited by the American Association of Museums, and is an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.
The Museum of Flight is located at 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle, Exit 158 off Interstate 5 on Boeing Field halfway between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport. The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Museum admission for adults is $23 on-site and $21 online. Youth 5 through 17 are $14 on-site and $13 online, youth 4 and under are free. Seniors 65 and over $19 on-site and $18 online. Groups of ten or more: $21 per adult, $13 per youth, Thanks to Wells Fargo, on the first Thursday of every month, admission is free from 5 to 9 p.m. And parking is always free. There is a full lunch menu café in the Museum and a limited menu café in the Aviation Pavilion, both operated by McCormick & Schmick's. For general Museum information, please call 206-764-5720 or visit www.museumofflight.org
Ted Huetter
Senior Public Relations Manager
206.455.5360
Rachel Dreeben
Associate Manager, Marketing and Communications
206.768.7201
