| "Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings Sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things..." |
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Copyright 1998 Christine Smith.
All Rights Reserved.
By Christine Smith
Photos by Jim Koepnick - Courtesy
of EAA
| "Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings Sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things..." |
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The beautiful words of the famed High Flight poem were wonderfully sung by John Denver in his song "The Higher We Fly." They were sung with such sincerity that the listener can feel the love John had for flying, and sense the joy he derived as he "topped the wind swept heights with easy grace."
The dream of flight. It has captured the hearts of millions for centuries, and now with our technological advances, nearly all types of flight you can imagine are possible...if you pursue it...if you follow your heart.
Making sure that dream of flight is fulfilled for young people is the mission of the Young Eagles program of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Aviation Foundation.
By providing complimentary airplane rides in aircraft ranging from standard factory-builts, antiques, classics and warbirds to aerobatics, jets, helicopters, balloons and gliders, the EAA hopes to foster not only an awareness of aviation career possibilities, but also an appreciation for the joy and exhilaration of flight.
More
than 20,000 EAA members have volunteered their time and aircraft resulting
in over 370,000 young people having already received a demonstration
flight since the program began in 1992.
But that's only the beginning. The EAA has also developed the "Vision of Eagles" which integrates the broad outreach of the Young Eagles program with the more focused experience of the EAA Air Academy providing numerous educational materials and experiences to young people who excel in aviation, with the ultimate pinnacle being the programs available at the EAA Air Academy.
Oshkosh, Wisconsin is the home of the EAA, where fly-ins are held annually, at which Young Eagles learn first-hand what it takes to build, maintain, and fly various aircraft.
Every Young Eagle flight is a personalized experience which fascinates and inspires its young passenger to learn and explore the wonderful world of aviation. Made possible by the volunteer pilots, ground crews, educators, and spokesmen, it's the beginning of a new era of sharing the spirit of flight with the youth of today...the pilots of tomorrow. The EAA Fly-In Convention is the world's largest, most significant sport aviation event, and provides a week-long celebration of events perfect for the individual or family and offers numerous Young Eagles activities. Academy Award winning actor and pilot Cliff Robertson was the first honorary Chairman in 1992, and Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager was the 1998 Honorary Chair. Upon moving the entire EAA operation to Oshkosh, the Aviation Center was fortunate to have the combined talents and passion for flight of John Denver, Cliff Robertson, and Barry Goldwater.
"What wonderful spokesmen," says Tom Poberezny, President of the EAA, "All three had a tremendous passion for aviation...each one had a different style of delivery...and each from a different part of the country: Cliff from out east, Barry from the southwest and John from the mountains."
"They were all very articulate, and they reached hundreds of thousands of people because they were well regarded and well respected," explains Poberezny, the appreciation for the three of them in his voice. "All of them went beyond their boundaries," in their commitment to the things they believed in.
John Denver was both a member and an active participant in EAA's activities and took a particular interest in the programs for young people.
"John loved to sit down and talk airplanes...he mixed so well with people. What you saw on the stage is what John was off the stage. Very animated. Very warm. Very conversational."
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Often serving as a spokesman, a presenter, and in other educational programs for the youth, John wanted to share the love he had for flying with others. That love found John flying numerous aircraft, but within the aviation spectrum, Poberezny says, aerobatics was John's real passion. "I don't think he did it with the idea of being serious about it as much as just enjoying the exhilaration and the feeling it brought."
"I think John would want to be remembered as a good person. I don't think he would want to be remembered as an entertainer, but as a good person who was sincere and dedicated to what he believed in. It just so happened he was a talented person who could use that as an opportunity to gain a platform for his messages...and he wasn't afraid to do that."
And one of those messages was to provide the opportunity for young people to gain knowledge about the thing he loved - flying. Toward that, a fund in John's memory has been established to benefit the Young Eagles and Vision of Eagles, and all donations are deeply appreciated. So, if you have a desire to help share the spirit of flight, here's a great opportunity. Or, if you have a potential Young Eagle (age 8-17) and would like to receive more information, feel free to contact us.
If the dream of flight is in their heart....let's make it a reality.
To make a donation in John's memory, please make your check payable to the E.A.A. Aviation Foundation, and make sure you mark the check's memo section "In Memory Of John Denver." Send contributions to: EAA Aviation Foundation/Attn: Development Office/P.O. Box 3065/Oshkosh, WI/54903
For more information on the Young Eagles program, contact the Young Eagles' Office: P.O. Box 2683, Oshkosh, WI 54903. FAX: (920) 426-6764; E-Mail: yeagles@eaa.org or call (920) 426-4831. Young Eagles information is also available through the World Wide Web at http://www.eaa.org.
Return to: FourteenerNet : John Denver Remembered
Rev. 5/20/05 jmb
