Media Release
Contact: John Seburn, Hagerstown Aviation Museum and Vintage Video,
717-597-9695
Tom Riford, Hagerstown-Washington County CVB, 301-791-3246
For Immediate Release:
Ribbon Cutting/Grand Opening Set For Hagerstown Aviation Museum Interest In
Aviation History Includes The Broadcast Television Premier Of Hagerstown
Aviation Documentary on Maryland Public Television and Coincides With Annual
Fly-In at Hagerstown Regional Airport
(Hagerstown, MD June 29, 2005) -- According to organizers of the Hagerstown
Aviation Museum, a grand opening ceremony and ribbon cutting is scheduled
for July 14th at 10am. The new Hagerstown Aviation Museum celebrates and
honors the achievements in aviation in Washington County. Additionally,
Maryland Public Television is premiering a documentary about Hagerstown's
contributions to aviation.
Hagerstown Aviation Museum President Kurtis Meyers said, "The museum's
collection came from dedicated people throughout the community, who have a
strong desire to display memorabilia from Hagerstown's aviation past. Our
county was home to significant manufacturers including Bellanca,
Kreider-Reisner, and Fairchild. Hagerstown was known for making world famous
airplanes, and this new museum is a collection that will help sustain
interest in the part that Hagerstown played in this industry." Meyers said
that the new museum is housed in the Discovery Station building on 101 West
Washington Street.
Museum organizers said that the Discovery Station has been terrific to
provide space for the aviation exhibits. Meyers said, "We are housed in the
Discovery Station Transportation Gallery, which truly offers a fun-filled
adventure in learning. We want to welcome people to stroll through the
Hagerstown Aviation Museum and experience the pioneering achievements that
for over seventy years made Hagerstown one of the leading centers of
aircraft manufacturing."
The July 14th official grand opening coincides with an upswing in interest
of Hagerstown's aviation history. Maryland Public Television has announced
the broadcast premier of the film: "Hagerstown: Remembering Our Aviation
History." The film will be shown on Maryland Public Television on July 12th
at 10pm and again on July 15th at 11pm. The documentary was produced by
Vintage Video Productions, and the MPT special broadcasts are sponsored by
the Richard A Henson Foundation, Inc. and the Hagerstown-Washington County
Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Maryland Public Television said in a news release: "The unique and untold
story of Hagerstown's aviation past unfolds in this new documentary film by
Vintage Video Productions. With many never before released images and an
extensive collection of rare local film footage, this documentary is sure to
pique the interest of Fairchild and Hagerstown aviation enthusiasts
everywhere!"
According to Tom Riford, President of the Hagerstown-Washington County CVB,
"We are very pleased to partner with the Henson Foundation to help bring
this positive story to the television screen. To have this documentary shown
on prime time TV is a wonderful testament to the hard-work of the movie's
production team who are also behind the new Hagerstown Aviation Museum."
Riford also said that thousands of people will learn about Hagerstown's
aviation history, right before the weekend of the big annual Fly-In and
Fairchild Reunion set for July 15-17. "It's an exciting event, the ribbon
cutting, the movie's TV premier, and the fly-in all happening in the same
week!" Riford said that thousands of people are expected for the annual
aviation event to be held at the Hagerstown Regional Airport, at Hagerstown
Aircraft Services. Historic aircraft displays, a 1940's dance, discovery
flights, experimental aircraft, and bus tours are included in the weekend
event.