Gen Hap Arnold's 125th Birthday!

Photo courtesy of af.mil.

To AFA Chapter Members:

Gen Hap Arnold’s 125^th birthday is just around the corner!

In commemoration of the only Air Force general to hold five-star rank, a small, private ceremony will take place at Arlington Cemetery in Washington, DC on Saturday, June 25.

Gen H. H. Arnold was an aviation pioneer, and the only Air Force general to hold five-star rank. He became a military pilot in 1911, and was one of the first flyers taught by the Wright Brothers. In June 1912, Arnold established a new altitude record when he piloted a Brugress-Wright airplane to a height of 6,540 feet. By his retirement in 1946, he had built the U.S. Air Force into a separate service of the armed forces. During his 35-year career, he saw the service burgeon, and the versatility of his leadership set in stone a strong mission and place for the US Air Force.

The H. H. Arnold Award was established in honor of General Arnold by AFA in 1948. It is presented to those who have made the “most outstanding contributions toward the peace and the security of the United States in the field of aviation.”

Coordinated by the Andrew D. Turner Squadron of the Arnold Air Society (AAS), a service organization that advocates the support of aerospace power and works to build strong leaders, this event will include a color guard, a brief speech on the achievements and significance of Gen Arnold, and the placing of flowers on his gravesite.

Event details are as follows:

Date of Event:  Saturday, 25 June 2011 (1400 hrs)

           

Location: Gravesite of General Arnold, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA 22211

*Arlington National Cemetery, located just across the Potomac River from Washington, is accessible by car (with hourly parking), as well as the D.C. Metro Rail system.

Dress Attire: UOD, Service Dress or casual business attire.

To attend the event, an RSVP is required by June 18, 2011.  Please send RSVPs, questions, concerns, or requests for more information to det130cw.aas@gmail.com.