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Veterans Day events in North County 

–Service will be honored across North County today at a variety of events.

The Estrella Warbirds Museum will provide a flyover of military aircraft during today’s Veterans Day ceremonies to honor those who served our nation. Known as Freedom Flight, the six airplane formation will fly over the Paso Robles Cemetery, Atascadero Veteran’s Memorial, and Los Osos Memorial Cemetery during the Veterans Day celebration.

  • 11 a.m. Paso Robles District Cemetery, 45 Nacimiento Lake Drive
  • 11:30 a.m. Faces of Freedom Veterans Memorial, 9029 Morro Road, Atascadero
  • 11:45 a.m. Los Osos Valley Mortuary and Memorial Park, 2260 Los Osos Valley Road

 

Brad Eaton, Flight Leader of the first V formation, will be flying a Stearman bi-plane, used during WWII as a basic flight trainer. He will be flanked by his wingmen, Bob Kelly on his left in an L-16 Champ, and George Marrett and Charlie Little on the right in an L-5E Sentinel. Both of those airplanes also saw service during WWII in training, logistics, and light observation roles.

The second V formation will be led by Scott Stelzle flying a Beechcraft T-34, a post WWII basic flight trainer. He will have Randy Wilbur flying off of his left wing in a North American T-28, a post WWII advanced flight trainer, and Jeff Quaid flying off of his right wing in a North American T-6, a WWII basic trainer.

These airplanes will fill the skies with sounds familiar to many Veterans in tribute to their service. As the formation flies over each location, one airplane will pull up, out of the formation, performing an aerial salute to the Veterans. Whether in times of war or peace, Veterans who served our nation are deeply deserving of honor and our respect.

The aircraft will take off at 10:50 a.m. from Estrella Warbirds Museum and flyover Paso Robles Cemetery at 11 a.m. performing a missing man pull up at 11:02 a.m. Both flights will proceed to Atascadero Veteran’s Memorial and arrive overhead at 11:30 a.m. performing a missing man pull up. The remaining three aircraft will proceed southbound to the Los Osos Valley Road and overfly Los Osos Memorial Cemetery from east to west at 11:45 a.m. with the missing man pull up. The aircraft will return to Paso Robles Airport.

The Estrella Warbirds Museum is located at 4251 Dry Creek Road and will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5 to $12, or free for children under 6; veterans get in free.

Paso Robles District Cemetery

There will be an 11 a.m. ceremony held at Paso Robles District Cemetery, 45 Nacimiento Lake Drive. Ceremony includes a speech by Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Fluckiger, U.S. Army garrison commander at Fort Hunter Liggett, and a flag display, with Salvador Cota, commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 17965, serving as master of ceremonies. In addition to coffee, hot chocolate and cookies, a hot dog lunch will be served after the ceremony.

Atascadero Faces of Freedom

There will be a ceremony held at the Atascadero Faces of Freedom memorial, located at 9029 Morro Road, starting at 11 a.m. Ceremony includes a speech by Honor Flight Central Coast of California founder Greg McGill, a Grizzly Academy color guard accompanied by Central Coast Pipes and Drum, music by San Luis Obispo County Trumpet Alliance and Fine Arts Academy choir and presentation of the Distinguished Veteran of the Year award. Ceremony is followed by a community lunch. Food and drinks cost $7 to $10.

 

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The news staff of the Paso Robles Daily News wrote or edited this story from local contributors and press releases. The news staff can be reached at info@pasoroblesdailynews.com.