Lancaster Veterans Home To Hold BBQ Fundraiser

[boardman]

Lancaster Veterans Home To Hold BBQ Fundraiser For Fighter Plane
F-100 plane being restored for relocation to Veterans Home!

A BBQ Fundraiser will be held on Saturday, May 12, 2012 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the William J. “Pete” Knight Veterans Home of California located at 45221 30th Street West in Lancaster, to help fund the restoration and relocation of a fighter jet plane to the Veterans Home. In honor of its namesake and the aerospace community that it serves, the Lancaster Veterans Home recently acquired a F-100 Super Sabre fighter plane for permanent display. Tickets for the BBQ are $10 per person, with children age 12 and under eating free, and can be purchased at the door.

The Board of Directors of the East Kern Airport District voted in December of last year to donate the surplus supersonic jet fighter to the Veterans Home after storing it at the Mojave Air & Space Port for several decades. To celebrate this generous gift and raise funds to offset restoration and display costs, the Veterans Home is hosting the fundraiser. Smooth jazz entertainment will be provided by Marc Micisso.

A local volunteer group of aerospace enthusiasts, with financial assistance from the United States Air Power Museum in Fresno, CA, have already begun restoration activities on the plane. Directing the project is William Dietzel, CEO of the United States Air Power Museum. As part of the preparations, the fighter is being given a camouflage paint scheme to resemble those flown by the late Senator William J. “Pete” Knight, a United States Air Force project test pilot for the F-100 program, for whom the Veterans Home was named in honor and memory.

“This is going to be a great addition to our home and I know the residents are excited to have such a great display,” said Norman Andrews, Director of the Veterans Home and a U.S. Air Force Veteran with over 30 years of military service. “It’s going to take a lot of money, but I think the community will support us.” In addition to the contributions raised by the BBQ and future fundraising events, the Veterans Home will also be selling commemorative brick pavers to be displayed around the plane. For more information, please contact Linda Godin at (661) 810-2047.

“It is my honor as a U.S. Air Force Veteran to be part of the restoration of the F-100 Super Saber to be placed on static display at Lancaster Veterans Home in honor of William J. “Pete” Knight,” added Dietzel. “It is our way as Veterans of giving back and to say ‘thank you’ to all of America's Veterans, for their quiet courage and service -- to let them know we are grateful and acknowledge their many sacrifices and accomplishments. I believe the war years and the men and women who flew these great aircraft in time of war should be remembered, not only for their impact on history, but also for the aircraft that served us so well.” For more information, please call Jeanne Bonfilio at (424) 832-8219 or Linda Godin at (661) 810-2047.

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Jeanne Bonfilio Public Information Officer California Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Homes of California for Greater Los Angeles and Ventura Counties 11500 Nimitz Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90049 Office: (424) 832-8219 Cellular: (310) 775-7980 HONORING CALIFORNIA'S VETERANS