A Ceremony Held At The EAA Memorial Was Was Well Attended

Jack Pelton, current Chair of the EAA board, welcomed all to a dedication ceremony of Paul Poberezny's plaque on the Memorial Wall, started by Paul himself in 1988.Years ago Paul encouraged all EAA members from around the world to send local rocks in order to construct the wall  with which he created the design of his cherished Cross/Prop, which can be seen in the middle.

Pastor Ed Riddick, retired EAA chaplain, spent a few minutes recalling some personal stories of Paul's rich life. According to Riddick, when Paul was only 8 years old he started his 'Airplane Factory' in his fathers chicken coop. Paul credits his history teacher with further sparking his interest in aviation by getting him to join the school Aviation Club. When Paul was a young boy he would go out on the playground while in school and find the nearest puddle, knowing that when he returned to class his teachers would send him home to change his wet clothes. He would take that truant opportunity to go out and work in his Airplane Factory.

As Paul reached the twilight of his life he was often asked 'What are you thinking'. Paul would always reply, 'Airplanes; I love them and they love me'. During the ceremony one might have thought it odd that a two piece band consisting of a accordion and a guitar would play 'God Bless America" to a Polka beat, but as Pastor Riddick stated, 'Paul always enjoyed Polka music'.

Prior to Pelton's closing remarks, and with perfect timing a missing man formation consisting of a B-17 and three P-51 passed overhead as the lone P-51 pulled up and out of the formation to salute, one last time, the man who started it all. Paul's plaque does not sit at the top of the heap nor is it the largest one of the lot, but rather it sits among the other builders and shakers who came and went before him. It's just one last statement by the humble man who started EAA.

(Missing Man image by Eric Van Gilder)

FMI: www.eaa.org