Wings Over the Rockies to Honor Aviation & Wildfire Teams

Colorado non-profit to recognize local firefighting heroes

Denver, CO – April, 2021 – Denver-based Wings Over the Rockies (Wings) is pleased to host a virtual gala on Thursday, April 22 at 6:30 p.m. MDT to honor aviation and wildfire professionals who helped save life and land in the record-breaking 2020 Colorado fire season.

In 2020 alone, more than 625,000 acres burned across Colorado, including the three largest recorded fires in Centennial State history. With their indiscriminate power to destroy life and land, the fast-moving fires displaced thousands of residents and required the help of even more firefighters on the ground and in the skies.

Event host Rick Crandall, award-winning Colorado radio broadcaster, will lead attendees through conversations with pilots, Incident Response Teams and impacted communities. Participants will learn about the critical role aviation plays in fighting wildfires, how ground and air teams work together and how to get involved in the industry. Guests will also hear from Governor Polis, who states “firefighting from the air is clearly more important now than ever before.”

“With wildfires growing and putting more lives and communities at risk, these aviation and wildfire teams play a vital role in protecting our state. We want to honor and thank them for their bravery and exemplary commitment to communities and the state of Colorado,” said Wings’ President and CEO, Maj Gen John Barry, USAF (Ret).

The fundraising event will launch with an online silent auction starting Thursday, April 15. Registrants will help support Wings’ mission to educate and inspire people of all ages about aviation and space endeavors of the past, present and future.

To learn more and purchase tickets, visit WingsMuseum.org/Gala.

About Wings Over the Rockies:

Wings Over the Rockies is a Colorado-based non-profit organization dedicated to educating and inspiring all people about aviation and space endeavors of the past, present and future. By utilizing the Air & Space Museum in Denver’s historic Lowry neighborhood to preserve the past and the Exploration of Flight Center at Centennial Airport to focus on the present and future, Wings strives to encourage the future aerospace leaders of tomorrow. For more information about Wings Over the Rockies please visit WingsMuseum.org and ExplorationOfFlight.org.

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