Letter: Aviation education jeopardized

I am a Korean War veteran, having served in the Korean Theater of Operations (Okinawa) in 1953-54 in a fighter squadron.

I am also a six-year volunteer at the Pearson Air Museum. During my time as a volunteer I have hosted hundreds of children on tours, allowing them to sit in a "real airplane" and sit at a flight simulator and experience what it is like to "really fly."

I've also explained what forces keep an airplane in the air — what "thrust," "lift" and "drag" mean in flying terms. It is an educational experience for the young people as well as adults.

I've also hosted visitors from Australia, England, Japan, Lithuania, Canada, Mexico as well as every corner of the United States. All have been generous in their compliments about the airplanes and exhibits we had.

Now, the museum is in jeopardy. How sad.

I urge the citizens of Vancouver and Clark County to contact Rep. Jamie Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, and Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., immediately and request prompt action on their part to have Pearson Air Museum returned to us.

George Higgins

Vancouver

Source:   http://www.columbian.com