Veterans Day
WORLD WAR II FIGHTER PILOT TAKES TO THE SKIES TO CELEBRATE 100TH BIRTHDAY AND HONOR MILITARY MEMBERS
Ed Cottrell, 100-year-old WWII Veteran will take a tandem skydive with the All Veteran Group to commemorate his 100th birthday and then honor service members at McLaughlin Park, Raeford, NC.
On behalf of Downtown Raeford Business Association, the All Veteran Group, Solution Training Maintenance, and Skydive Paraclete XP, we invite you to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and honor service members at the Raeford Flags for Honor.
On November 8, 2021, WWII Fighter Pilot, Ed Cottrell, will take a tandem skydive with the All Veteran Group parachute team for his 100th birthday. The jump will occur at 1pm at Skydive Paraclete XP. Upon completion of the jump, the team will escort Ed to McLaughlin Park where he will place the first identification marker flag onto a display wall built to honor military members and their families. Members of the community will be provided with an identification flag where they may write the name of their service member on and place the flag on the wall in their honor. The first flag will be placed by Ed on the wall at 3pm.
Members of the community are invited to watch Ed conduct his skydive and place their flags on the wall after Ed places the first flag.
Ed’s Bio:
Ed Cottrell served in the Army Air Corps from August 1942 through 1945. He enlisted in the Air Force Reserves in 1950 and completed 28 years. Cottrell graduated from flight school in 1944 and was sent to England, assigned to the 48th Fighter Group, 493rd Fighter Squadron outside
of Paris in September 1944. He took his first skydive ten years ago with the AVG to celebrate his 90th birthday.
Skydive Paraclete XP: 143 Airport Drive, Raeford, NC 28376
McLaughlin Park: 361 N Stewart Street, Raeford, NC 28376