More than 500 guests turned out for the 2016 Spreading Wings Gala Saturday, November 5 at the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum in Lowry to honor more than a dozen American Fighter Aces, extraordinary veterans who have distinguished themselves among the elite in aerial combat.
The event honored veteran aviators from all primary branches of the U.S armed forces. Throughout aviation history during World War II, Korea and Vietnam these heroic pilots possessed the skill, fortitude and courage to survive combat missions and return home.
Emcee Amelia Rose Earhart introduced the honorees who were presented with their awards by Wings CEO Greg Anderson. Their heroic stories are told in “Wings of Valor” a book that immortalizes the individual stories of the nation’s top aviators.
Among those honored were:
Col. Bud Anderson
Col. Abner Aust
Lt. Col. Henry Buttelmann
Col. Richard Candelaria
Col. Dean Caswell
Lt. Gen. Charles Cleveland
Capt. Richard Fleischer
LCDR Fred “Buck” Dungan
Brig. Gen. Frank Gailer
Cmdr. Lester Gray
Cmdr. Willis Hardy
1st Lt. James Luma
Ens. Donald McPherson
LCDR Billy Watts
Capt. David Wilhelm
For more information visit: www.wingsmuseum.org
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- Kathy Haley and Arkeo, museum mascot
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- More than 500 attended Spreading Wings Gala
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- Amy Goulds, Gary Coulter
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- Aviation Historian Frank Olynk
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- Col Abner Aust, Bob and Sandy Haddad
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- Bryan Anderson, Cmdr Lester Gray, Paula Gray
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- Jill Guss, Cathy McNally, Cyndy Marsh
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- Marine Col Dean Caswell
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- Jodi and Bill Sorensen
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- Majors Jordan Wilkie, Ben Couchman
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- 1940s dancers entertain the crowd
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- Bronze sculpture “Lest We Forget The Mission” by retired Major Fredric Arnold
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- More than a dozen aviators were honored this year
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- Displays provide bios and achievements of Fighter Ace pilots
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- Ens Donald McPherson, Terri Hasty
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- Jennie Rybos, 1st Lt. James Luma
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- 1st Lt. James Luma, Col Richard Candelaria
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- LCDR Billy Watts
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- Col Richard Candelaria, Sybil Praski
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- Karl Carlson, Melissa and Brett Williams
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- Jim and Ashley Williamson
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- Lt Gen Charles Cleveland
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- Nanci and Rich Downing
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- Classic autos reflected another era of the ’30s and ’40s
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- Candy Candelaria, Col Richard Candelaria
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- Jim and Virginia Patton, Debbie Hyatt, Mindy Herd
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- Cmdr Lester Gray, Mike Lauffer
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- Wings CEO Anderson, Blake Scholl, Wendy Tong
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- Colleen Curran, Steve Boane
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- Emcee Amelia Rose Earhart of 9News
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- Amelia Rose Earhart welcomes guests
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- Wings Over the Rockies houses a wide variety of aircraft from many eras
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- A video honored US’s top aviator veterans
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- Wings CEO Greg Anderson presents Cmdr Grey with an award
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- Wings of Valor describes biographies of America’s top aviators
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- A wide variety of sponsors and supporters make the Spreading Wings Gala an annual success
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- Spreading Wings Gala is the museum’s signature fundraising event
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- Images and biographies of Ace Aviators lined the event’s entranceway
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- This year’s Gala honored “American Fighter Aces”
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- More than 500 supporters gathered at Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
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- 9News Emcee Amelia Rose Earhart thanked guests and sponsors
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- Live auctioneer Shelly St. John generated large donations
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- More than a dozen top veteran aviators were honored
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- This year’s Spreading Wings Gala featured a golden seal representing all US military branches
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- Emcee Amelia Rose Earhart lead events for the annual museum gala
