1. YANKEE AIR MUSEUM SUPPORTS THE USO AND HONORS MEMORIAL DAY
The Yankee AirMuseumis askingeveryone to“Celebrate andConnect”and“Pause andRemember”this
Memorial Day weekend.OnSaturday,May28, 2016 the Museumis invitingeveryonetovisit,from
10:00am to 4:00pm, and senda message toactive militarypersonnel. Thissupportsthe USO’sgoal of
collecting1millionmessagestoshare withthose servinginthe U.S.militaryworldwide. Thenon
Memorial Day,Monday May 30, the Museumwill have itsannual programdedicatedtohonoringthe
militarymenandwomenwhowere killedservingthe UnitedStates. The Museumwill be openforthe
program,beginningat9:00am and thenclose forthe balance of the day,encouragingeveryone tobe in
theircommunity torecognize andrememberthe sacrificesmade forAmericanfreedom.
“Honoringour pastwhile celebratingourfuture isthe unifyingtheme forthe Museum’ssupportof the
USO’s lettercampaign,”saidMelissaFrutos,chairpersonof the eventforthe Yankee AirMuseum. “We
value ournation’smilitary,past,presentandfuture andthisprovidesuswithanimportantconnection
to our service menandwomen.”
Frutosexplainedthatthiscampaignisespeciallyimportanttoherfamilyasher husbandiscurrently
servinginthe AirNational Guardinsupportof the State PartnershipProgram. She saystroops
everywhere appreciateknowingtheyhave the supportandappreciationof the people backhome. The
USO’s goal of 1 millionmessagesispartof their75th Anniversarycelebrationandatangible efforttolet
the troops knowthatAmericacares.
“Thisis a digital campaignandthe Museumwill have computertabletsavailableforpeopletologinto
www.USO.organdclickon‘Celebrate andConnect’tosenda message,”continuedFrutos. “The
Editorial ServicesDirectorof the USO will be atthe Museumto greetvisitorsandtalkaboutthe
importance of keepingintouchwiththose defendingusoverseas.”
Frutosalsosaid that schoolsare beingencouragedtogetstudentsinvolved. Asawife anda mother,she
knowshowmuch itmeansfor kidstounderstandthe depthof sacrificespeoplemake inservice totheir
country.
The Museum will have itsannual,reverentMemorialDayprogramon Monday,May 30. “Memorial Day
isamong the most cherishedHolidaysformanyAmericanfamilies,”saidGeof Bush,Memorial Day
chairmanfor the Yankee AirMuseum."Memorial Dayisthe dayto ‘pause and
remember’all of the Americanskilledinbattle.Manyfamiliesare affectedandthe Museumprovidesa
veryappropriate patrioticprogram."
Bushsaid the Museuminvitesthe general publictorememberthe fallenheroesandpartake inthe short
eventthatstarts at 9:00 a.m. AmericanveteransrangingfromWWIIto the recentIraq and Afghanistan
wars will be recognized,butthe focuswill remainonthe menandwomenthatsacrificedtheirlivesfor
our country.The ceremonyalsoincludespatrioticsongsfromthe BellevilleCommunityChorusanda
keynote addressbyaGulf War Veteran,Lt.CommanderTonyPequeno,USN (Retired).
Executive Directorof the YAMKevinWalshsaidMemorial Dayisespeciallyimportanttothe Museum
because of itsmany memberswhoservedfromWorldWarII to presentday,ineveryconflictinwhich
Americahasbeeninvolved.

2. "The museumhasa longstandingandstrongcommitmenttohonoringourmilitaryveterans,"Walsh
said."Thisyearwe take ita stepfurtherbyworkingwiththe USO to sendnotesof thanksto active
service menandwomen. These eventsare exemplaryof ourcore values."
Memorial Day originatedtohonorthe Civil Wardead,andthe holidayof remembrance wasfirstcalled
DecorationDay.It was renamedandofficiallyrecognizedasa federal holidayin1971.
The Yankee AirMuseumis locatedat 47884 D Street,Belleville, MI48111 on the groundsof historic
WillowRunAirport.The Museumwill be openfrom10:00 am to 4:00pm on SaturdayMay 28; from
noonto 5:00pm on SundayMay 29 andfrom 9:00 a.m. until 10:30am on Memorial Day,May 30, 2016.
There will be nocharge to attendthe Memorial DayService orvisitthe Museumon Saturday,May 28th