Gathering of Eagles Raises $2 Million for Youth Education
By Katie Holliday-Greenley
July 28, 2017 - EAA’s annual Gathering of Eagles raises money to support EAA’s educational programs including Young Eagles, which has provided more than 2 million young people with free introductory flights.
The event, held in the Eagle Hangar of the EAA Aviation Museum July 27, brought together aviation enthusiasts and aviators raising approximately $2 million for EAA’s education programs.
Among the most highly anticipated auction lots was a specially made Ford F-150 Raptor designed to mimic the look of the Lockheed F-22 Raptor jet.
In attendance were eight Apollo astronauts including Walt Cunningham, Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, Buzz Aldrin, Frank Borman, Al Worden, and Joe Engle, and Apollo 13 mission commander Gene Kranz who received a standing ovation for their work in the Apollo mission program.
Stan Lee, creator of such comic book characters as Spider-Man and the Incredible Hulk, was also on hand to announce the creation of a new superhero, Aviore, whose mission is to spread The Spirit of Aviation.
America’s Got Talent season six runners up The Silhouettes performed for attendees, and country singer Aaron Tippin was also there to perform a trio of patriotic songs with his wife, Thea, and son Tom.
