Aviation festival starts Friday
Courtesy photoThe first annual Grant County Aviation Festival begins Friday at noon and runs through Saturday and Sunday.
GRANT COUNTY - Coordinators behind the Grant County Aviation Festival at Grant County International Airport this weekend liked the area so much, they're moving here.
Mothers of Military Support was founded by Elizabeth Johnston in 2003. Its mission is to provide positive support of service members, family and community by providing services which are consistently available, accessible and responsive to the needs of individual service members, families and groups seeking assistance.
Other festival coordinators are the state Department of Veteran Affairs, the City of Moses Lake, Grant County and the Port of Moses Lake.
Mothers of Military Support Business Manager Bill Campitelle said the festival is in honor of the country's and state's veterans and promotes awareness of veterans and their benefits.
"So people have a better idea and understanding of where the veterans are coming from," he said. "We support our veterans, we provide different programs and services, and we also provide packages overseas."
The program and the department have a pilot program, MOMS Mobile, which goes into different communities to provide information about veterans' benefits.
Mothers of Military Support is currently based in Kelso, Wash., where it also had an aviation festival, but Campitelle said it will be moving to Moses Lake within the next year and a half.
Planning for the festival has been in the works for more than a year.
"At the same time, we discovered this wonderful, lovely place who loves veterans and people," Campitelle said. "We said, 'OK, we've got to go there!'"
Johnston echoed Campitelle's sentiment.
"We love this area, I can't say enough about Grant County," she enthused. "It is a wonderful place to bring a family and be a part of an organization. I see needs for veterans here as well. We will be able to branch out. We'll still have our connections on the west side, my home base will be here."
The move from Kelso to Moses Lake also affords the festival a larger space.
"We're able to bring in bigger planes," Johnston explained. "It's such a wonderful, caring community to be able to host an event in, as well as the relationship of it being the retired Larson Air Force Base. That just is an added plus."
Gates to the festival open Friday at noon in the terminal building; the event runs until 5 p.m., opens at 10 a.m. Saturday and runs until 5 p.m. and opens 10 a.m. Sunday and runs until 4 p.m.
A ceremony begins Saturday at noon, and runs until 3 p.m. First Gentleman Mike Gregoire, department Director John Lee, department Deputy Director Alfie Alvarado, port Commissioner Delone Krueger and other state dignitaries will be present.
The event includes a drawing each day for a free trip to the Bahamas or Caribbean cruise, the Purple Heart Mustang sponsored by Korum Motors and the chance to look inside the C-17 Globemaster III, the newest and most flexible cargo aircraft to enter the airlift force.
Capable of carrying most of the Army's equipment, the C-17 measures 174 feet long with a wingspan of 169 feet, 10 inches. Maximum payload capacity is 170,900 pounds and its maximum gross takeoff weight is 585,000 pounds.
Other highlights include the Special Forces skydiving team, Cascade Warbird aircraft, a preview of Verl Smith's racing for veterans and the ground equipment of the Puget Sound Military Vehicles Collector's Club, displaying history from both the World War II and Korean War era. There will be flying displays, static displays and vendors of all kinds.
The event is free to military veterans of the armed service with a military identification. Children 15 years and younger are also admitted free.
Ticket donations are $6 at the gate or at the following locations: The Cherry and Chocolate Factory, at 11220 W. Marina Drive, in Moses Lake; American Legion Post 209, at 538 W. Broadway Ave., in Moses Lake; Andrew's Hallmark Shop, located at 102 W. Third Ave., in Moses Lake and the Bookery, located at 1 Basin St. N.W., in Ephrata.
Ticket sales go directly to pay for fuel for the aircraft.
Vendor space is still available at http://moseslake.momsservices.org/vendorregistration.htm or call Rose Marie at 360-989-5564.
Campitelle said the Mothers of Military Support's primary goals are to raise awareness amongst veterans themselves, work with other organizations supporting veterans and give the community better understanding about veteran benefits.
"What they're entitled to, and try to get overall community support for that," Campitelle said. "We want to work with all the other organizations. If you can't fill a void, MOMS Mobile will be there to fill that void and get the word out to the people."
"The event is to honor and thank veterans," Johnston said. "Some people see it just as an event, and there's so much more to it than that."
For more information, call 360-359-1217.
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