Tony Bill accepts his honorary membership (#36) in the Lafayette Flying Corps from Andy Parks at the VIP screening at AMC Loews Georgetown.
During a recent VIP screening of “Flyboys,” the Lafayette Flying Corps honored the film’s director, Tony Bill, with honorary member #36.
“It was important for us to do this, because of his desire to perpetuate this history and get it out to the public,” explained Andy Parks, president of the Lafayette Flying Corps and of the Lafayette Foundation.
Parks flew to Washington, D.C., to present the membership at the AMC Loews Georgetown to Bill. Parks has worked with Bill, a pilot who has a passion for World War I aviation, regarding the Lafayette Escadrille historical feature for the DVD.
Parks brought with him a contingency from Denver that included three other honorary members, Jerry Priddy, Mark Holliday and Nick Rutgers, as well as Nancy Hall Rutgers, the daughter of James Normal Hall, one of the original 38 members of the Lafayette Escadrille and famous author.
-
- Esther and Jerry Priddy, Richthofen Castle owners, welcome Tony Bill as a new honorary member of the Lafayette Flying Corps, dedicated to the American pilots who flew for France just before America entered World War I.
-
- Nancy Hall Rutgers, daughter of James Normal Hall, shows Tony Bill the registered historic site in Tahiti where her father rests in peace.
-
- Andy Parks shows FAA Administrator Marion Blakely the Lafayette Flying Corps honorary membership awarded to Tony Bill.