John Shockley, (732) 522-6178     Hillsborough Rotary

Greg Burchette, (908) 458-2612    Hillsborough Rotary

Fred Cassaday at (732) 699-1431, Piscataway Rotary

Rod Hirsch (908) 698-0333/ opshbxnj@yahoo.com

 

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HILLSBOROUGH, NJ – Vintage fixed-wing aircraft and modern-day Medevac helicopters will fly into Central Jersey Regional Airport on Saturday, Sept. 20, as part of a day-long event to help Rotary District 7510 raise funds for various charities and foundations dedicated to assisting US military and veterans. Pilots and their planes from 35 airports throughout New Jersey have been invited to participate.

 

The general public is also invited attend the Military & Veterans Appreciation Day ”Fly-In” from 1-5 p.m. to view the aircraft and other attractions, including antique and collector automobiles. There will be food vendors, live bands, clowns, face painting, fire engines and other activities for children. Other scheduled attractions include ascents on tethered hot air balloons and airplane rides

 

Proceeds from the event will go to fund New Jersey organizations that work to benefit former and active members of the US military. Donations of food, clothing and toiletries for the military and veterans will be collected at the event.  Participating organizations include Operation Shoebox New Jersey and Operation ChillOut.  Outreach and information for members of the military, their families and veterans will be provided by several organizations, including the Veterans Administration. 

 

Rain date is Sunday, Sept. 21.  Entrance to the airport is at 1034 Millstone River Road.

 

Rotary International is a worldwide service organization of businessmen and women dedicated to community service and humanitarian causes.

 

Rotary District 7510 includes 45 Clubs in a five-county area comprising Somerset, Hunterdon, Union, Middlesex and Mercer counties. Members of several clubs will volunteer at the air show and fly-in.

         

Operation Chillout, based in Long Valley, is a grassroots interfaith coalition founded in the year 2000 by concerned volunteers to help a group of homeless Viet Nam veterans living in the open under a railroad trestle in northern NJ. They provide emergency supplies and survival gear to the most vulnerable members of our communities wherever they encounter them. Operation Chillout is seeking new and unused clothing that will be donated to homeless veterans. Requested items include knit cap and gloves, wool/nylon blend socks, insulated underwear and hooded, zipper sweatshirts in sizes large and extra large.

         

Operation Shoebox New Jersey, based in Hillsborough, was founded in February 2005. It is an all-volunteer grass roots organization dedicated to collecting donated supplies and shipping care packages to U.S. troops based in Iraq, Afghanistan and other Middle East countries.  Operation Shoebox seeks donations of food and personal care items that are placed in personal care packages shipped to members of the US military deployed overseas. Requested items include canned tuna, canned fruit, 1 oz. boxes of cereal, dried fruit, trail mix, granola bars, beef jerky, small bags of pretzels and chips, small tubes of toothpaste, toothbrushes, small packets of moist wipes, soap, deodorant, small canisters of powder and small bottles of shampoo.

         

Both organizations will host displays at the event where donated items can be dropped off.  Operation Shoebox New Jersey will have a display of greeting cards for children to color. The greetings will be included in the care packages shipped overseas.

 

Further information is available by calling Rotary members Fred Cassaday at (732) 699-1431 or John Shockley at (732) 522-6178.

 

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