DC Air Guard Celebrates 6th Anniversary of Pilot for a Day Program

WASHINGTON, DC (05/19/2011)(readMedia)-- The District of Columbia Air National Guard will celebrate its sixth annual Pilot for a Day Reunion at Andrews AFB, Md., at 9:30 a.m. Friday, May 20. The media is invited to attend.

What: DC Air National Guard Pilot for a Day Reunion

When: 9:30 a.m. Friday, May 20

Where: 459th Airlift Squadron (Building 3744)

Joint Base Andrews, Md

The Pilot for a Day Program gives participants, usually young children with life threatening illnesses such as cancer, a chance to meet and spend time with many of the different units stationed on the base, including the DC Guard's F-16 Fighter Squadron. It was originally started at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, in 1994, and other bases followed including Andrews in 2004.

This year the unit will host seven children and their families. So far 13 children have participated through the years, and all of them are invited back for the reunion.

This event has other benefits besides giving the kids a chance to sit in the cockpit while aircraft taxi and meeting the personnel who make them fly, said Maj. Susanne Schulz of the D.C. Guard

"We bring kids out and they get to meet each other, as do the families who are going through similar situations," she said.