The United Way of Lowndes and Noxubee counties said thank you to its young volunteers Saturday with an appreciation day at Columbus-Lowndes County Airport.
The event coincided with the last day of the airport’s 70th anniversary celebration, during which the terminal building was renamed in honor of Lt. Col. Alva Temple of the Tuskegee Airmen.
United Way Executive Director Renee Sanders told The Dispatch Saturday morning the event was for students, ages five to 25, who have volunteered in the community over the past year.
“We do an annual banquet that’s all formal, but it’s during the day and students can’t come because they’re at school,” she said. “So we try to do something to say thank you to them.”
The event, which featured live music, games and food trucks, was held at the airport to overlap with the anniversary, Sanders said.
“We usually hold it out at the lock and dam, but (Fixed Base Operator Dan Duston) said we could come out here and partner up,” she said. “While they’re here the kids can do and explore the airplanes, as well, and that’s pretty cool. It’s one of the beauties of being out here.”
One of those airplanes was the “Flagship Detroit,” which is the oldest DC-3 still flying, Duston said. Built in 1937, it was originally operated by American Airlines.
The DC-3 was the workhorse passenger plane during the airport’s years as a commercial airport, Duston said.
This plane is especially noteworthy due to its direct connection to U.S. History, Duston said.
“What’s special about this plane is that First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt rode that plane a number of times,” Duston said. “She was instrumental in convincing (President Franklin D. Roosevelt) that Black men should be allowed to fly planes.
“Learning about this has been a cool history lesson just for me,” he added.
The DC-3 was available Friday and Saturday for tours and flights over the Golden Triangle.
Brian Jones is the local government reporter for Columbus and Lowndes County.
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