NEWS INFORMATION FROM

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED
City of Harrisburg
King City Government Center
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1678
Telephone: 717.255.3040

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
10 February 2004

HUEY HELICOPTER CELEBRATION TO STOP IN CITY ON WAY TO SMITHSONIAN ENSHRINEMENT

Harrisburg, PA—“America’s Huey”, a restored helicopter which saw service in the Vietnam War will make Harrisburg one of its few stops on a National Farewell Tour on its way to become part of the new “Price of Freedom” exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, Mayor Stephen R. Reed announced today.

“This historic aircraft will land in Harrisburg on March 1 and we will provide a proper tribute to honor the veterans of the Vietnam War and all American conflicts dating back to the French and Indian War,” Reed said.

“Harrisburg is honored to be selected by the sponsors of this National Tour, which also includes stops at the Air Force Academy, West Point and the Naval Academy,” Reed said, citing the proximity of the U.S. Army War College in nearby Carlisle as one of the factors in the sponsors’ decision to stop here.

Designated “America’s Huey-091”, the helicopter is a restored Bell UH-1H, which spent two years in combat in Vietnam with the 173rd Assault Helicopter Company. She was damaged by enemy fire three times. The third time she was declared a loss. Subsequently recovered and returned to service in the United States and Germany, she has spent the last eight years touring America as an educational and healing tool.

The aircraft was owned by the Texas Air Command Museum in Ft. Worth, Texas and is being donated to the Smithsonian for the new exhibit, which is scheduled to last for thirty years. It will feature artifacts from those conflicts, including a World War II Jeep and Gen. Colin Powell’s uniform from Desert Storm. The helicopter will be the largest single piece on display.

“I want to thank the local volunteers who have made this historic visit possible,” the Mayor said. “Led by John Travers and members of the Vietnam Veterans of America Capital Chapter 542, this group has made possible this unique opportunity for all of Central Pennsylvania to bid farewell to this icon of the Vietnam War.”

Mayor Reed said all veterans’ groups in Pennsylvania will be invited and asked to send an honor guard. All Pennsylvanians are invited to attend the ceremonies to honor the retiring war bird and all veterans and civilians who have served their country in wartime. The Mayor added that he hoped school children would have the chance to see the helicopter during its visit.

“Given our current commitment of military forces in Iraq and Afghanistan the ceremonies surrounding this visit by America’s Huey will give Pennsylvanians a chance to show their support for our troops and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” Reed said.

Mayor Reed said the exact time and location of the helicopter’s visit is currently being planned and will be announced at a subsequent date.

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