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Remember Sand Point’s First Flight Around the World on Sept. 28

The community is invited to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the first flight around the world from Seattle’s Sand Point Airfield at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014. The event takes place at the former Naval Air Station Sand Point, now known as Magnuson Park (7400 Sand Point Way NE). This event was planned by the Friends of Sand Point and is funded in part by an award from Seattle Department of NeighborhoodsNeighborhood Matching Fund and a grant from 4Culture.

Ninety years ago, more than 50,000 people and a 21-gun salute greeted the returning bi-planes and U.S. Army airmen when they landed at 1:28 p.m. on Sept. 28, 1924. The 175-day flight was tracked by millions of people around the world. The pilots were met in many countries by kings and heads of state.

A reenactment of the landing will take place at Sand Point’s North Shore, now Sand Point Naval Air Station Historic District (one of Seattle’s eight historic districts). Public officials will greet the pilot and the audience will be entertained with an interview about the exploits of the journey. The Sedentary Sousa Band will play and a base tour will follow.

This event is part of a Naval Air Station Sand Point reunion weekend and is open to the public. A symposium on the first flight and Sand Point’s place in this military and aviation history will be held at the Museum of Flight (9404 E Marginal Way S) at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept.27. Dan Hagedorn, chief curator; Capt. Ron Miller, U.S. Navy (retired), former Commanding Officer at Sand Point; and Commander Cori Parker, leader, U.S. Navy Centennial Celebration are keynote panelists.

Interested members of the public will be invited to share memories and be videotaped as part of the “Sand Point Remembered” oral history project. For more information, please visit www.sandptnavsta.org or email info@sandpoint.webreg.us.