Hello from pollen covered North Georgia! Kathy and I are making last minute preparations for our upcoming driving tour of Ireland. I will send Ken some pictures of Dirty Nelly's and Bunratty Castle so we can all reminisce.
I am very grateful for all the support we have received from SPAR members as Kathy and I attempt to duplicate the successes of past staff members. We will do our best to keep you informed of the latest news relating to our SPAR family.
As Ken Kahn previously wrote, we enjoyed a successful reunion in Pensacola Beach. I am looking forward to next year's reunion in either Charleston or Savannah. We will be posting a comparison of each soon. Every effort is being made to make next years reunion one that you won't want to miss.
A special thanks goes out to Joan Volkman, who has generously donated a priceless piece of Seaboard history. (See links at bottom.) Many of you may remember Seaboard's humanitarian efforts in the Saigon-Phnom Penh Rice Airlift at the close of the Vietnam War. Seaboard World Airlines was selected to fly dangerous, round the clock missions to bring food to the isolated city. To commemorate the efforts of these volunteer crewmembers, our company presented each one with a leather bound album. Inside are citations from the Dept. of Defense, news clippings, and details of the mission. There are letters from Carl Hirschberg, Charlie Bell, and Richard M. Jackson to name a few. This is a must see piece of Seaboard World Airlines proud history of service to our country. It will be proudly displayed at our reunion next year.
In closing, I would like to remind everyone to please inform us if you hear of anyone in the Seaboard family who is ill. This will afford us the opportunity to reach out to them and their families.
Blue skies and fair winds,
Lou and Kathy Furlong
Photos courtesy of Joan Volkman and Lou Furlong
Cover of album presented to Will Volkman
List of personnel participating in the in the Saigon-Phnom Penh Rice Airlift
April, 1975
