In planning and execution for three years, the improvements to the Warbirds area were still receiving finishing touches last week. The dream of honoring veterans blended with the need to allow people and aircraft to move efficiently in the Warbirds area, said Warbirds of America executive director Bill Fischer. “The main goal was to make this an anchor destination,” Fischer explained. Just as AeroShell Square is a destination on the AirVenture site, the enhanced Warbirds display site is envisioned as a venue within the overall AirVenture venue.

The new concrete apron hosts this year’s popular Warbirds in Review sessions twice each day during AirVenture. These events highlight aviators and their aircraft from several military epochs. The sessions are animated by the heartfelt interactions between the audience and the veterans being honored.

In addition to the memorial and apron, the Warbirds gift shop and pilot registration building was expanded. Scotts Miracle-Gro provided major funding enabling these improvements. Scotts CEO Jim Hagedorn owns a P-51 Mustang and is a former U.S. Air Force F-16 pilot. And the intersection of the Scotts company with EAA members goes even deeper, Fischer says, since Scotts is involved in turf management that can be of use to grass airstrip operators.

Wally Binder, an EAA member from Wausau, Wisconsin, helped design the improvements, Fischer said. The contractor was Zillges Materials of Oshkosh and sod was placed over the new knolls by Brinkman Landscaping, he added. The imposing bronze eagle was cast in North Carolina by artist John Hair.

At 2 p.m. Monday, the American flag was raised officially for the first time over the Warbirds memorial. Bill Fischer reflected on what he hopes visitors will experience as they approach the new Warbirds enhancements from the south: “I think it should be pride… They can walk tall and reflect on the sacrifices our veterans have made.”