Airshow and traveling Vietnam wall to be featured at Historic Aviation Memorial Museum

Published 6:24 pm Sunday, October 16, 2016

The inaugural Rose City Rotor Fest will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Historic Aviation Memorial Museum.

The event will bring helicopters from The American Heroes Air Show and the American Veterans Traveling Tribute wall, a replica of the Vietnam wall in Washington, D.C., to Tyler.

Representatives from local law enforcement agencies will also be present at the event to explain some of the tasks they perform and equipment they use daily.

“This event is to showcase American heroes,” said Louis Thomas, president of the historic Aviation Memorial Museum. “In addition to having United States helicopters that perform all kinds of missions for this country … we want people to talk to these people and understand what they do.”

A full day of free activities is planned for Saturday after the event officially starts at 9 a.m. At a special program planned for 11 a.m. Congressman Louie Gohmert is scheduled to give the keynote address.

Other attractions planned for the day include the Liberty Jump Team, Men in Harmony, the TJC Jazz Band, food vendors, helicopter rides and a CODE3 Career Expo featuring recruiting teams from law enforcement, public service and the military.

Gates will open for attendees at 8 a.m. and parking at nearby lots at the museum, at 150 Airport Dr., will be $5. Free parking will be available at the Harvey Convention Center, 2000 W. Front St., and at John Tyler High School, 1120 North Northwest Loop 323. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. buses will travel to those locations and take people to the museum for free. Buses will stop taking visitors to the museum after 3 p.m.

Thomas said a group of area schools would be visiting the American Veterans Traveling Tribute wall Friday. According to a tentative schedule, the wall will be available for public viewing on that day starting at 9 a.m. until the museum closes at 4 p.m.

Ultimately, Thomas said he hopes this event helps members of the public see the importance of understanding and supporting those who work in law enforcement and protect the United States.

“Our nation is almost at a real crisis with law enforcement,” Thomas said. “They put their lives on the line every day. We want them out there so that people can get to know them.”

Rose City Rotor Fest is hosted by the Historic Aviation Memorial Museum and the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce Aviation Committee, in conjunction with the city of Tyler Pounds Regional Airport. This is a family event and smoking is prohibited inside the airport fence. Other prohibited items include alcohol, drugs, weapons, balloons, fireworks and coolers. All persons and bags are subject to search inside the airport fence.

For more information, visit www.tylerhamm.com or go to Facebook at www.facebook.com/RoseCityRotorFest or call 903-526-1945.

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