Aim High.... Believe In Yourself... Use Your Brain.... Lessons to live by...

The P-51C Mustang flew in the show on both days while the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit was busy with long lines and standing room only in the theater. The community was very appreciative that this Exhibit was a part of this spectacular air show.

Many students brought their parents to the airshow as a result of seeing the movie at their school. They wanted their parents to see the Mustang and the RISE ABOVE movie which inspired them. Among our special guests, was a friend of the Don Hinz Family – who viewed the RISE ABOVE movie not just once, but twice… As she fought through the tears, she said she was inspired and amazed to see that Don’s mission is continuing. And she definitely approved of the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit to tell the story of how the Tuskegee Airmen Triumphed Over Adversity.

There were numerous media outlets that covered the CAF Red Tail Squadron and the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit. The media was also present at Tucker Creek Middle School. In addition, the base invited the Mayor and city officials for a special viewing of RISE ABOVE at the school on Wednesday.

Educational Outreach – The Educational Outreach Visits were held at Tucker Creek Middle School in Havelock, NC. A record number of 797 students enjoyed their RISE ABOVE Experience over a two day period. Just a few days later, we received this note:

A HUGE thank you to the CAF Red Tails program for the past 2 days they have been here for our students. Terry & Jeanette have been absolutely wonderful! Our students and staff thoroughly enjoyed the program and the kids are still wearing their Rise Above dog tags. The lessons and inspiration learned from the Tuskegee Airmen through this program will be carried on into lessons in our classroom and the kids will remember the 6 core principals. Thanks again. It has been a real inspiration to us all.

For pictures of the event at Tucker Creek Middle School click here.

For additional pictures of the air show please click here.

Delta Air Lines and CAF Red Tail Squadron pose by the P-51C Mustang. Photo Courtesy Clifford Martin

Dates: April 28-29, 2012
Event: Robins Air Force Base Air Show
Location: Macon, Georgia
Attendance: Record attendance estimated at over 180,000
Volunteers: The CAF Red Tail Squadron volunteers were Terry and Jeanette Hollis, Elena Dupree and Brad Lang. Incidentally, Elena is new to the CAF Red Tail Squadron and did an outstanding job of supporting Brad throughout the Warner Robins airshow. She also doubled as announcer for our P-51C Mustang. Thanks Elena
Educational Outreach: Rutland High School – 497 students

The 2012 Warner Robins airshow concluded on Sunday April 29th. By all accounts it was a tremendous success. Terry and Jeanette Hollis brought the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit to Rutland High School in Macon, GA a few days prior to the show. Over 450 Rutland High School students were exposed to the inspirational message of the exhibit. Most of the students had heard of the Tuskegee airmen but did not know there was an organization (CAF) that travels the country with an actual red tail P-51C Mustang.

According to Warner Robins base spokeswoman Chissy Miner, this year’s attendance broke all previous records. Crowd estimates were between 150,000-180,000 attendees for the two day airshow. The RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit and P-51C Mustang were parked next to the Delta Air Lines 757. This pairing was requested by Delta following a successful February dinner event at Delta Headquarters saluting the Tuskegee airmen. Embracing diversity and inspiring future generations is part of Delta’s core values. Inspiring generations is part of the CAF Red Tail Squadron mission statement. The CAF Red Tail Squadron incorporates six values that we believe can assist individuals in overcoming adversity. These values are: Aim High, Believe In Yourself, Use Your Brain, Be Ready To Go, Never Quit and Expect To Win. These are values we believe were helpful to the Tuskegee Airmen. More than 3000 attendees were exposed to this inspirational message in Warner Robins.

The Delta team was led by Pete Sansom. The team informed their attendees of the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit parked next to their 757. Their team did a great job of representing Delta Air Lines as they showcased the 757′s technology and explained Delta’s vision for the future. Delta understands that American history can be an inspiring educational tool. The RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit and red tail P-51C are educational tools used by the CAF Red Tail Squadron to inspire the public.

The CAF Red Tail Squadron volunteers were Terry and Jeanette Hollis, Elena Early DePree and Brad Lang. Incidentally, Elena is new to the CAF Red Tail Squadron and did an outstanding job of supporting Brad throughout the Warner Robins airshow. She also doubled as announcer for our P-51C Mustang. Thanks Elena!

Click here to see photos of Educational Outreach at Rutland High School
Click here to see more photos!

The CAF Red Tail Squadron brought their Mustang back to where it all began – Tuskegee, Alabama. The P-51C and the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit was on display to the community of Tuskegee Alabama on both Saturday and Sunday. Golden Eagle Aviation along with the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site hosted the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit and the Mustang. Those in the community who were able to enjoy the RISE ABOVE movie were very appreciative – they especially liked the Mustang.

The focus of this weekend was to bring the RISE ABOVE Experience to the community of Tuskegee. Paul enjoyed talking with the children and showing them the Mustang while Terry, Jeanette, Elena and Peggy talked with the spectators about their RISE ABOVE Experience.

Golden Eagle Aviation was extremely helpful as they promoted the event, worked out the logistics and provided food to those in attendance. They have already expressed an interest in bringing the CAF Red Tail Squadron back to Tuskegee, Alabama.

Educational Outreach – The RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit was at Booker T. Washington High School on Wednesday and Thursday. The school really appreciated their RISE ABOVE Experience and over 465 children viewed the RISE ABOVE movie. For pictures of this event at the school, click here.

For additional pictures at the National Historic Site please click here.

Dates: April 11-14, 2012
Event: Open House at Carolinas Aviation Museum
Location: Carolinas Aviation Museum
Attendance: Over 4,000 visitors
Volunteers: Katie McClamrock and Adam Sisk
Educational Outreach – School groups and children under the age of 18 were invited to attend the museum free of charge.

The CAF Red Tail Squadron was kept quite busy at the Carolinas Aviation Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina. The museum opened its doors to show off the Mustang and the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit — and the community responded in record numbers.

The media began on Sunday afternoon when CAF Red Tail Pilot, Alan Miller landed the Mustang at the museum and offered a ride to the Charlotte Observer Newspaper. This ride produced numerous articles and pictures throughout the week. On Wednesday, the city of Charlotte held a dedication ceremony for the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit which also attracted numerous media outlets.

Duke Energy was a sponsor for this event, and they also assisted in promoting the RISE ABOVE Experience in Charlotte. The Carolinas Aviation Museum purchased a ride in the Mustang and then sold raffle tickets with the ride as the grand prize for the winners.

Large crowds gathered to view the P-51C and view the RISE ABOVE movie. The theater was filled for each viewing which also included long lines patiently waiting for the next showing. The community was supportive of the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit as the museum counted over 4,000 visitors throughout the 4 day event. For the museum, the previous one day record attendance was a little over 500 visitors. On Saturday the attendance was over 2,000 visitors. The museum has already requested a date for 2013.

For additional pictures please click here.

A great group of cadets assembled during the presentation by Col. Brake and Col. Hardy

Upon arrival of the Mustang, CAF Red Tail Squadron Pilot, Doug Rozendaal conducted numerous interviews including a press conference at the media center on Wednesday. Other media opportunities include Sun N Fun Radio, Flying Magazine, The Ledger newspaper, General Aviation Magazine, Worldwide Aviation Blog and numerous other media outlets. The P-51C Pilots, Doug Rozendaal and Paul Stojkov performed in the show on several days and were one of the highlights in the warbird community.

Sun N Fun 2012 was a very successful event for the CAF Red Tail Squadron and the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit. EAA officials estimate a record number of spectators attended with beautiful weather all week long. The 30 minute RISE ABOVE Movie was shown continually throughout the 6 day event to a steady stream of spectators. As always, the RISE ABOVE experience was enjoyed by everyone and several are now working to find a way to bring the RISE ABOVE Experience to their community.

Special guests include the cadets from the Central Florida Space Academy and cadets from the Plant City Army ROTC. Each day at 8:30 am a special viewing of the RISE ABOVE movie was offered for the local cadets who thoroughly enjoyed their RISE ABOVE Experience.

Ulysses Lee ‘RIP’ Gooch answers questions from the ROTC youth.

Col. William Brake and Col. George Hardy

Educational Outreach – Prior to the show, the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit was set up in Simpson Park, in Lakeland, Florida where the public was invited to see enjoy the RISE ABOVE Experience. For additional pictures from Simpson Park, please click here

For additional pictures from the Sun N Fun event please click here.

L to R Tuskegee Airmen Charles Holiday, Daniel Keel, Hiram Mann

The Mustang arrived on Thursday, the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit was in a great location given to us by Dr. Arlen Staffer and his great team. The RTS team had met Dr. Stauffer at ICAS last year. He had promised a great show in New Smyrna Beach, and we were not disappointed. The weather, while windy, was great for flying. And the turnout for the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit was fantastic! Robyn Feld, Brad Lang, Terry and Jeanette enjoyed long lines for 3 days….The crowd really enjoyed the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit and P-51C being side by side. This kept the crowd interested and excited.

Interestingly, there were many folks who had seen the exhibit in Daytona or read about it in the local newspaper and decided to come see the RISE ABOVE movie. This was the first airshow for many individuals. And, the media attention for our Red Tail Squadron was great. In addition, the exhibit was fortunate to have Hiram Mann with us for two days at the airshow. For those of you who don’t know, Hiram was one of our earliest supporters, and he’s still as sharp as a tack!

There were 4 Mustangs in attendance, and they performed on all three days. Mark Henley, from the Aeroshell T-6 aerobatic formation team led the flight for the 3 days. Mark did a great job of keeping the team together and safe.

While flying with three other P-51′s is certainly great, the highlight of the weekend was being with Kurt Hinz and his family. Brad invited Kurt to sit in the P-51C and reminisce for a while before he entered the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit to view the movie. By the time Kurt came out Brad was just taking off for the Mustang formation demonstration. We were able to obtain a few VIP passes for Kurt and family. I know Kurt and Melanie were appreciative to see what the Red tail Squadron has been able to achieve with Don’s dream to inspire new generations with the lessons of the Tuskegee Airmen. When you see the photos of Kurt, Melanie and all the smiles …you’ll understand why the New Smyrna Beach Balloon and Skyfest was an event to remember.

For additional pictures of Daisy Park click here
For additional pictures of New Smyrna Beach & Ballon Fest click here

Here are several great testimonies!
From the City of New Smyrna Beach, I echo Dr. Stauffers’ statement, the Red Tail P-51 Mustang and the RISE Above exhibit were a huge part of the success of the weekend. Mr. Lang, thank you for bringing a proud legacy to life for our residents.

Pam Brangaccio, City Manager

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We so appreciated your presence here and the presence of the RISE ABOVE Exhibit, and we watched thousands flock to see the Red Tail P-51 Mustang and line up for the Exhibit’s movie. The partnership we forged with Bethune-Cookman was great, and we’re certainly planning on fostering that connection in the future. And, having Col. Mann present throughout the weekend was fabulous; I heard so many folks say, “He was a REAL Tuskegee Airman!” When the US Army Golden Knights completed their baton presentation with Col. Mann after their Sunday afternoon jump, every single person at the air show was standing and there weren’t many dry eyes….one of quite a few very special moments this weekend.

Our City Commission and Management has been very supportive of our event, and I am copying this to them.

Thanks again for all of your help, and for your willingness to be here, to fly the Red Tail for us in the shows, and to add a very special flavor to our event. I look forward to perhaps seeing you at ICAS in December.

Arlen R. Stauffer, MD

Larry was a dedicated supporter of the CAF Red Tail Squadron's educational efforts and encouraged youth to set goals, stay focused, overcome their obstacles, and aim for excellence.

Larry grew up in North Minneapolis and was a proud graduate of North High, class of ’37. In his youth he spent considerable time at the Phyllis Wheatley Settlement House, which he credited with much of his later success. He repaid the help he got there by volunteering as a coach and mentor at Phyllis Wheatley and later tutoring in the Minneapolis Public Schools well into his BO’s. He coached football and Babe Ruth and Little League baseball in Brooklyn Park and youth baseball in Golden Valley, and was an assistant football coach at North High for seven years.

He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1947 and spent WNW serving in a segregated unit In North Africa, Sicily And Italy. He was wounded in Italy and spent 18 months recovering in Army hospitals.

In 1957 he married Alice (Jo) Kelly and they had three children, Kevin, Laurie and Janine. Among other jobs, Larry worked in the Minnesota Department of Revenue as a tax auditor. He used that experience to good advantage by helping set up an income tax withholding system in Uganda, East Africa. from 1566-68 under a contract with U.S. Agency for International Developmerit. When he and his family returned to the U.S. he worked for three years as deputy director of the Urban Coalition in Minneapolis, and later held other positions in the private sector, Larry attended Mankato State College on a football scholarship, the University of Minnesota, and ultimately earned his bachelor of Arts degree from Metropolitan State University after retirement.

When his daughter Laurie was being treated at the University of Minnesota Hospital for leukemia in the early 19605. he recognized the need for housing for parents of hospitalized children, many of whom came from outside the Twin City area. He was one of the three original founders of the Ronald McDonald House in Minneapolis, which opened Its first house in 1979. More recently he has been heavily involved in the CAF Red Tail Squadron, which operates educational programs about the Tuskegee Airmen, the legendary black fighter pilots who served with distinction in WWII. His brother, Col. Harold Brown, is a Tuskegee Airman. A proud and involved father and grandfather, Larry often could be found cheering on his offspring at sporting events. especially hockey. Larry was preceded in death by his daughter, Laurie. Besides his wife, Jo, of 55 years, he is survived by son Kevin (Kathleen), daughter Janine (Tom). grandchildren Jackson, Shaefer, Lily. Ethan, Mei and Ave, his brother Cot Harold Brown (Marsha), special nieces Kathy. Marcy and Sue, many other nieces and nephews, caregiver and friend Greg Salyers. and dozens of other relatives and friends. A celebration of Larry’s life will be held on Saturday. April 7. from 4:00to 7:00 at the Calhoun Beach Club for family and friends. Memorials may be given to the Ronald McDonald House or the CAF Red Tail Squadron.

Publication: Star Tribune; Date: Mar 21, 2012; Section: Twin Cities + Region; Page: B6

Friends and family will celebrate his life April 7 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Calhoun Beach Club.
Photo courtesy Star Tribune photo galleries

Few summed him up as aptly as Item 78: “Believer in people.”

Brown, who grew up in Minneapolis, fought in a segregated unit in North Africa during World War II, coached youth sports in the Twin Cities and co-founded the Ronald McDonald House in Minneapolis, died on March 14 at his home in Golden Valley. He was 92.

Brown — known to many as Larry or Bubba — never forgot the guidance he received at the Phyllis Wheatley Settlement House, a community center that was opened in the 1920s for immigrants and black families. He later served as a board member and mentor at Phyllis Wheatley and continued into his 80s as a mentor for Minneapolis students. Older teens often received the gift of a dictionary after their sessions with him were done.

“He loved to work with kids,” said Jo Brown, his wife of 55 years. “I think he probably should have been a teacher, because he really enjoyed it.”

Brown coached youth baseball and football, and was an assistant football coach at Minneapolis North High School.

He played football on scholarship at Mankato State College and studied at the University of Minnesota, but his education was disrupted by his service in World War II. He didn’t earn a college degree until his retirement decades later, when he completed course work at Metropolitan State University.

By that time, he had already been a tax auditor for the Minnesota Department of Revenue, a deputy director of the Urban Coalition in Minneapolis and an executive for the Hayes contracting company.

His career included an unusual two-year stint in the 1960s in Uganda, where he helped establish an income tax-withholding system. His wife recalled one of their first days in Uganda, when he asked a waiter to tell men at the other end of a bar to quiet down.

“Sir,” the waiter replied. “That is Colonel Amin. He’s the head of the army. I don’t think it would be proper for me to tell him to be quiet.”

Seeing families travel to the University of Minnesota for cancer treatment compelled Brown to help found the first Ronald McDonald House in Minneapolis. He used his skills and contracting connections to renovate an old fraternity house.

More recently, he volunteered for the Red Tail Squadron, a locally based organization that honors the black pilots who flew in World War II as “Tuskegee Airman.” His brother Harold was one of those historic pilots.

Brown didn’t want a funeral and donated his body to the University of Minnesota Medical Center. Friends and family will celebrate his life April 7 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Calhoun Beach Club.

They’ll no doubt remember items 89 and 90 from the list of Brown’s qualities: “Proud papa” and “Great example.”

In addition to his wife, Brown is survived by two children, Kevin and Janine. A third, Laurie, died in childhood of leukemia.

Jeremy Olson • 612-673-7744
Article featured online at this link

Getting the Red Tail ready for the final day of Thunder in the Valley!!!! Special thanks to our great volunteer, Elena Early DePree!

The weather was perfect on both days and the community came out in record numbers on both Saturday and Sunday. Special guests at the display were the Osprey crew and the Hornet demo team. They thoroughly enjoyed their tour of the P-51 and watched as the P-51C taxied out for the demo.

Media coverage included both the local newspapers and television. The P-51C was the highlight of the interview on WTVM-TV on Saturday. The show was very excited and grateful to have this beautiful Mustang at their show this year!

Click here to see additional pictures of this event.