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