The rescheduled VFW Salute to Connecticut's Veterans battled a repeat of some poor weather after it had been postponed to the Oct. 3-5 weekend. Nevertheless, Saturday the 4th at Hartford-Brainard Airport saw an almost perfect day with cumulus clouds and 60-degree temperatures. The organizers of this event are to be congratulated for cramming so much activity and equipment into the three-day program.

The warbirds on display included the fabulous P-51 QuickSilver, FG-1D Corsair Skyboss, Fairchild PT-23A, SNJ, Aeronca L-3C, C-47, and an all-silver C-45. QuickSilver's father-son duo Bill & Scott Yoak flew from West Virginia specially to attend the event. Their beautiful machine which took 14 years to assemble from some 250 Mustang parts worldwide is dedicated not to any one squadron but to all American veterans from all wars. It and Skyboss flew separately and in formation during the day. Also participating in flight demos were the PT-23 and Aeronca. At one point two soaring bald eagles crashed the scene, adding to the event's national symbolism!

Other activities and hardware included a "Heroes Field" of flags and photos of both living and deceased state vets, a flag honor guard and motorcycle parade, military encampments and vehicles, a variety of military helicopters, and survival stories over the mike from WWII airmen.

All in all, I found the program to honor Connecticut's vets the best organized event of its kind I've ever been to! It would be nice if it could return to Hartford as an annual event.