110 area youth became Young Eagles on Friday and Saturday. A Young Eagle is part of a special group of people who have shared in a common experience -- the thrill of flying!
They became Young Eagles by participating in the Bainbridge High School Air Force JROTC BYE111. Each student went through an orientation of general information about the planes and then they took their orientation flight. This is the third time the Young Eagles program has been in Decatur County.
The first, in September 2005, 28 JROTC cadets took their orientation flights. The second time was February of this year and 30 cadets and 30 area youth went through the program. Friday and Saturday was the largest group yet.
Col. Breedlove set a goal to have 100 students fly. He exceeded his goal when JROTC cadet Erick Juarez became the 100th.
The Young Eagles Program was developed by the EAA Aviation Foundation to introduce young people to the world of aviation. Since the beginning of the program, over 1.3 million youth have become Young Eagles across the US.
The flight gives the student a new perspective on the world and helps them understand their potential is unlimited. The volunteers from EAA 445 make the Bainbridge Young Eagle flights possible. Col. Breedlove is very thankful to area pilot Karl Young who assisted in getting the program here.
 |
| Madison and Zach Toole, Stephanie Harter with Danny Deason as they get ready to soar |
When each student came off their plane, they were presented their Young Eagles Certificate and a special commemorative coin. The coins were another project that Col. Breedlove took on. After receiving permission from the State of Georgia and the United States Pentagon, the coins were produced to commemorative both the 60th Anniversary of the Air Force and the 100th Anniversary of Flight in Georgia.
There were several special guests during the two days of the Young Eagles Program. On Friday, Representative Gene Maddox spent the day with students, parents and pilots. On Saturday, Nick Fuhrman arrived get first hand experience with the program. Fuhrman is the director of the Aerospace Innovation Center in Marietta.
 |
| Col. Breedlove and Nick Fuhrman |
While this was the first face to face meeting for Col. Breedlove and Nick Fuhrman it was not their first contact.
In October, Nick Fuhrman informed Col. Breedlove that he had been selected to receive the first Ben T. Epps Aerospace Innovation Achievement Award for Education.
The Trophy for Education Innovation recognizes effective programs and strategies that improve science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) achievement in education and training. Col. Breedlove and his wife Patsy will be in Athens on Oct. 20 at the University of Georgia to receive the award.
