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
Kathy Haley and Arkeo, museum mascot
More than 500 attended Spreading Wings Gala
Amy Goulds, Gary Coulter
Aviation Historian Frank Olynk
Col Abner Aust, Bob and Sandy Haddad
Bryan Anderson, Cmdr Lester Gray, Paula Gray
Jill Guss, Cathy McNally, Cyndy Marsh
Marine Col Dean Caswell
Jodi and Bill Sorensen
Majors Jordan Wilkie, Ben Couchman
1940s dancers entertain the crowd
Bronze sculpture “Lest We Forget The Mission” by retired Major Fredric Arnold
More than a dozen aviators were honored this year
Displays provide bios and achievements of Fighter Ace pilots
Ens Donald McPherson, Terri Hasty
Jennie Rybos, 1st Lt. James Luma
1st Lt. James Luma, Col Richard Candelaria
LCDR Billy Watts
Col Richard Candelaria, Sybil Praski
Karl Carlson, Melissa and Brett Williams
Jim and Ashley Williamson
Lt Gen Charles Cleveland
Nanci and Rich Downing
Classic autos reflected another era of the ’30s and ’40s
Candy Candelaria, Col Richard Candelaria
Jim and Virginia Patton, Debbie Hyatt, Mindy Herd
Cmdr Lester Gray, Mike Lauffer
Wings CEO Anderson, Blake Scholl, Wendy Tong
Colleen Curran, Steve Boane
Emcee Amelia Rose Earhart of 9News
Amelia Rose Earhart welcomes guests
Wings Over the Rockies houses a wide variety of aircraft from many eras
A video honored US’s top aviator veterans
Wings CEO Greg Anderson presents Cmdr Grey with an award
Wings of Valor describes biographies of America’s top aviators
A wide variety of sponsors and supporters make the Spreading Wings Gala an annual success
Spreading Wings Gala is the museum’s signature fundraising event
Images and biographies of Ace Aviators lined the event’s entranceway
This year’s Gala honored “American Fighter Aces”
More than 500 supporters gathered at Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
9News Emcee Amelia Rose Earhart thanked guests and sponsors
Live auctioneer Shelly St. John generated large donations
More than a dozen top veteran aviators were honored
This year’s Spreading Wings Gala featured a golden seal representing all US military branches
Emcee Amelia Rose Earhart lead events for the annual museum gala
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
President/CEO:
Mark Hyatt
Introductions:
Wings CEO Greg Anderson, Wings President and COO Mark Hyatt
Welcome:
Amelia Rose Earhart, 9News
Sponsors:
Alpine Bank, Event Rents, Frontier Airlines, Gogo Business Aviation, Oracle, PS1, Textron Aviation, Three Tomatoes Catering / Paddle Raise Sponsor: Lockheed Martin
Auctioneer:
Shelly St. John
Attendance:
600+
Attire:
Formal Blacktie
Information:
www.WingsMuseum.org
Board of Directors:
Charlie Johnson, Chair, Wings Board of Directors / John Knudsen, Chris Leevers, Jay Lindell, Steve Lindsey, Peter Luce, Tom Marsh, Conor McCallin, Jeff Puckett, Ronald Smith