Unfolding history of Veterans Air Express garners storytelling invites.
Dear Veterans Air Families, ever-diligent Research Network, and Followers of this adventure…
The first half of 2020 promises energetic exposure for our still-unfolding history.
- ON JANUARY 22… An invitation from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott campus, to be the presenter for their monthly Aviation History Speaker Series. The honor, association and compliment to the Veterans Air story cannot be exaggerated! To top off the event, the University arranged a live radio publicity interview the day before on local station KQNA with D. J. Fone1, will video the evening and provide VAE a copy!2 If you’ve plans to be in or near Prescott AZ on January 22, consider yourself invited! And please let me know. Deep appreciation to Jerry Kidrick, Presentation Host, for these two opportunities.
- Here are a few of the previous Series Speakers:
- Donnie Cochran, first African-American Blue Angles pilot
- ATC Controllers Thomas Morin & Peter Zalewski, first moments of 9/11 from inside Boston Center
- Filmmaker CJ Machado, produced film about 75th Anniversary of D-Day
- Francis Gary Powers Jr., son of U-2 pilot shot down in Cold War
- Here are a few of the previous Series Speakers:
- COMING SOON (and unrelated to 22 Jan)… A 3-part video interview by four students of The Non-Sked Era Research Project at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach campus.3 Conducted in July by three ERAU women students who breathed fresh air into my hope for the future of the world, they and another impressive student video editor peppered the footage with 50+ images pulled from our VAE archive. From reviewing the “draft,” all I can say is “They did nothing short of a spectacular job!” A huge thank you, Team, for the work and the laughter.
- FOR JULY… An article accepted by AIRWAYS Magazine will appear in both their hard-copy print and online versions.4 This exciting announcement is due to AIRWAYS Aviation History Editor David Stringer and David’s support of more Veterans Air research. [Read our exchanges in this 28 August 2019 Post.5 Given the broad spectrum of AIRWAYS content and David’s reputation and knowledge about the non-sked era, this will be grand exposure for Veterans Air. Thank you, David, for your encouragement.
- WORK IN PROGRESS… By invitation, a story is planned in General Aviation News. A phone interview with Editor Janice Wood will be embellished by a few images “from back in the day” and some photos “from now, especially of the RV.” (Gracie must have called the Editor; I promise, I didn’t prompt that last request!!!) Covering a wide and informative range of general aviation topics, the publication delivers in both print and online versions with over 110,000 monthly readers. Interview and publication dates TBD.6 Thank you, Janice, for the invite.
The enrichment you each have provided…
None of this would be possible without the enrichment so many people have provided to this research project. Yes, my files are full of news articles and bits and bobs of intriguing information…BUT…
WITHOUT the face-to-face time, the hugs and ice cream cones with Jack, Thomas, Edward, and John (Stettner, Cowart, Martz and Schaus) and email exchanges with Michael Frome made possible by transcriptions by his daughter Michele…
Jack Stettner 7
Thomas Cowart 8
Edward Martz 9
Michael Frome 10
John Schaus 11
WITHOUT the hospitality of and laughter with Marilyn, Marie and June (Gries, Martz and Frome) our treasured Veterans Air widows…
face-to-face visits with the widows of three VAE crew members:
Marilyn Gries 12
Marie Martz 13
June Eastvold Frome 14
WITHOUT the friendships and stories and efforts of the Veterans Air “kids” like me and the 11 other located Veterans Air families whose fathers had already passed away…
exceptional founders, crews and families.
WITHOUT YOU, this research would not be informed with the life, love, energy and grace that energizes it and attracts the kind of above invitations we’ve received to tell our story.
Also “The “Oscars Go To…” you, my ever-diligent Research Network…
Veterans Air Families, you are my inspiration, motivation and joy to know. You deserve more credit than I can give you. But…you must share the spotlight with my ever-diligent Research Network. Here, I introduce just a few of them in photos soon to be released in the Embry-Riddle 3-part video. Like an iceberg, these men and women represent merely the tip of my Network.
And then there are the Librarians.
Another truth…they are the bedrock of this research.
They, too, never give up.
for the valuable press clippings and telegrams in their archive
that document Veterans Air briefly-established maintenance base at Hendricks Field.
And finally…”The “Oscar Lifetime Achievement Award Goes To…”
my most-diligent Web Designer, Paul Burton.
Paul is the man! Veterans Air has been Another Aditerum Project from the beginning.15 Without him, none of this would be brought to you at all, let alone with a flair that does The Story justice and with a technical aptitude that matches enabling our DC-4 to make back-to-back transatlantic flights.
Thank you, Paul, for your work, your patience and our friendship.
To Everyone…my deepest gratitude and “bestest” wishes for 2020 and beyond. Keep an eye out for Gracie & me…’ya never know!
Gaye Lyn
My “deepest gratitude and bestest wishes for 2020 and beyond” go to you, Gaye! Veterans Air Express was always a part of my life through my father’s stories – the degree to which you have enriched this legacy is just incredible. You are a special person. My special thanks for your enthusiasm, diligence, determination, and friendship. Much love! -Al
THIS is why I do what I do! Your message touches me to my core, Al. I just read your comment this morning and it comes at an especially appreciated time. Last night, I finished the “first final draft” of my upcoming Embry-Riddle talk. And, very honestly, it amazes and pleases me beyond my wildest imagination at how much more I could tell. Doing justice to the Veterans Air story is getting harder and harder…even with the gracious hour that ERAU’s Speaker Series allows me. So I always revise the talk to include new info. The innumerable, unexpected outcomes of the research have been and remains worth the journey. Thanks, dear friend, for all your help and encouragement along the way. Hugs, Gaye Lyn