Veterans Day event to focus on Vietnam, Ford

Published 11:38 am Friday, August 4, 2017

Cullman’s annual Veterans Day celebration will focus on the Vietnam War era, but a tip of the hat to Ford Motor Co. is also a special feature when November arrives.

At a press conference to announce plans for the celebration at Cullman Regional Airport-Folsom Field, Publicity Director Max Townson introduced an array of events on tap for the Nov. 4 event and some of the people behind the plans.

“While we will honor all veterans and their families,” Townson said, “the theme this year is ‘Good Morning Vietnam.’ We will have equipment from that war era and others, but this year we are also bringing the Ford Tri-Motor airplane, which was designed by Henry Ford and started cross-country air travel on a route developed by Charles Lindbergh.”

Eckenrod Ford of Cullman is sponsoring the Ford Tri-Motor, which will offer rides at $70 for adults and $50 for ages 17 and under through advance booking online. The walk-up price is $75.

While advertised as a transcontinental service, the airline initially relied on rail connections with a Pullman train that would be based in New York as the first part of the journey. Passengers then met a Tri-Motor in Port Columbus, Ohio, that would begin a hop across the continent ending at Waynoka, Oklahoma, where another train would take the passengers to Clovis, New Mexico. That’s where the final journey would begin on the Tri-Motor to reach Grand Central Air Terminal in Glendale, California, just northeast of Los Angeles.

The Ford Tri-Motor operated with such routes from 1926-1933.

“This is one way we want to give back to our community and be a part of honoring our veterans,” Eckenrod Ford General Manager Wade Bentley said. “Ford has a long history of contributing to the nation’s military and war efforts.”

All of this year’s activities will be at Folsom Field. Rides on Huey helicopters and other aircraft will be available. A Ford car show is also planned.

Visitors will also find a wide range of equipment used by American troops and have the opportunity to step inside a fortified bunker that was common in the Vietnam War.

The annual celebration has drawn thousands of people over the last few years. The Elks Lodge 1609 in Cullman is the sponsor of the event.

Details of the Veterans Day Celebration can be found at cullmanveteransday.com

David Palmer may be contacted at 256-734-2131, ext. 116.