Veterans Day celebration includes plane rides, displays

Aug. 28--Cullman's annual celebration of American military veterans will be seen in the air and on ground this year.

Scheduled Nov. 4-6, at Cullman Regional Airport and Sportsman Lake Park, the Veterans Day celebration has grown into an event attracting thousands of people from across the region.

Among the attractions will be a World War II model B-17 bomber, the Aluminum Overcast, owned and operated by the Experimental Aircraft Association of America in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. While rides are limited, anyone interested in feeling the experience of riding on the bomber may go to b17.org and book a flight for $449. On the day of the event, rides will be $475. Two P51 Mustangs, which escorted B17s during bombing runs, will fly into Cullman. Limited rides on the Mustangs will be available for $1,595 on Nov. 4-5.

"We will have many attractions depicting military life and life during wartime at Sportsman Lake Park. We want to honor our veterans for their service, and we hope people will come out and meet the men and women who have served our country. We have many veterans here representing different periods of our history," said (Ret.) Air Force Col. Ken Brown, director of the Veterans Day Celebration.

Among one of the entertaining events this year will be a Rosie the Riveter forum and costume contest headed by Cullman Historical Society member Frances Cooper. The forum and contest will be at the airport.

"She is looking for ladies from Cullman County who worked to support the war effort in World War II and are willing to come and be interviewed. The costume contest is open to women and girls of all ages. We're giving a $100 prize to the winner on Nov. 5," Brown said.

Visitors to the airport will find a re-creation of a World War II Eighth Air Force briefing room for B-17 crew members. A 1943 B-17 movie will also be shown each hour on that day.

Sportsman Lake Park will again include authentic military equipment, encampments, entertainment and food. Admission and parking is free for the public.

The Cullman Elks, which sponsors the event, will serve a free lunch to all veterans and their spouses.

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