Show Will Pay Tribute To Veterans Of Southeast Asia Conflict

A central theme of the 2007 Slidell (LA) Air Show will be paying tribute to Vietnam War veterans... and the official air show poster, created by an area artist, will bring that message home.

The poster sports a stark depiction of three UH-I Iroquis helicopter gunships flying over Vietnam's Halong Bay on the Gulf of Tonkin at sunset. The striking imagery was created by William J. "Bill" Prudhomme, whose poster was the winning entry among the 19 submissions by artists in the air show's first annual poster contest.

Prudhomme (right) said a quote from the celebrated Modernist sculptor Henry Moore best summarizes his technique and intention: "Art is the expression of the imagination, not the duplication of reality."

The poster promotes the third annual Slidell Air Show, to be held at Slidell Municipal Airport (ASD) March 30-April 1. One hundred signed and numbered copies of Prudhomme's poster will be printed and 90 of them sold to the public for $50 each.

Prudhomme will receive $200, and 10 posters for himself. The original entry remains the property of the airport.

The 2007 Slidell Air Show's official opening ceremony begins at noon March 31, with a flag presentation by the Marine Corps Color Guard and the singing of the National Anthem.

The EAA will offer free Young Eagles flights March 31 and April 1 for children ages 7 - 17 from 9-11:45 am. Jesuit Bend Helicopters and Warbird Sky Ventures will provide helicopter and vintage aircraft rides throughout the weekend.

Aerial demonstrations begin at 12:30 pm March 31 with a parachute jump by Skydive N'Awlins, followed by scheduled flights by the A-10 Thunderbolts, F-15 Eagles, C-130 Hercules and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and much more, including on-ground displays.

FMI: www.flyincalendar.com/event_detail.cfm?e=2658&m=3&y=2007