Local Pilots Show Support for Veterans on Memorial Day

By Carmelo Turdo

Local St. Louis and Southwest Illinois area pilots gathered again today at Sparta Community Airport - Hunter Field to prepare for an honorary fly-by over St. Augustine Cemetery in Hecker, IL.   Thirteen aircraft assembled at 9:30am on Memorial Day and the pilots gathered to brief the mission about route options and timing of the appearance over the Cemetery.  A variety of aircraft were involved, including a T-34 Mentor trainer, Cessna 172, Aviat Husky, home-built Fly Babies, and Rans RVs among others.  The Aero Experience rode along with our friend Bob McDaniel in his Cessna 172H Skyhawk from St. Louis Downtown Airport to Sparta, and we were prepared to chronicle the aerial salute when a pop-up thunderstorm formed over the area and the mission was cancelled.  We all then returned to our home fields ahead of the storm.  Even though the weather curtailed the aerial salute to fallen veterans, this is the type of activity that brings credit to participants in Midwest Aviation.  We will be back to do it again next year.