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 | Saturday, September 22, 2001
Members of the McNeal, Arizona Ladies Aid Society after our lunch. Amelia had lunch with the Society too, and we re-read the minutes of that 1928 meeting.
The past couple of days have involved long hours flying and very special stops. Our morning departure from El Paso was a bit of a bumpy ride through the desert as the mid-morning heat caused significant turbulence, but we touched down safely on a beautifully maintained gravel strip at Tribal Air in McNeal, AZ. There we were greeted by cheering residents that included heirs to the gentleman who photographed Amelia Earhart 73 years ago. Then it was a tour of downtown McNeal that included the house where Amelia was hosted during her stay in McNeal. We enjoyed a delicious lunch at Callahan?s Corner with the Lady?s Aid Society and a reading of the minutes from their September 12, 1928 luncheon meeting with Amelia.
After her lunch, Amelia came by the McNeal School. So did I!
We took to the air at 2:30 p.m. and quickly climbed to 7500 feet in an attempt to escape the scorching heat. At that altitude we were quite comfortable and enjoyed clear blue skies, but significant turbulence on our way to Tucson, AZ. Several of the Tucson Chapter of the 99?s greeted us. The 99?s are a women?s aviation group founded by Amelia Earhart in 1929 and so named by the number of charter members. They were kind enough to pose for pictures and wish us well and will be enjoying their annual meeting in Las Vegas, NV next weekend.
In Tucson I met some fellow members of the women's pilot service organization that Amelia helped start, The 99's.
What a nice surprise to find a brand spanking new airport terminal building at Casa Grande, AZ. I was delivered one dozen yellow roses by the Casa Grande chapter of the Zonta Society and treated to dinner at the local Holiday Inn. Fay Don was at the airport to sign our wing commemorating her visit with Amelia at her Casa Grande arrival in 1928. We also had the pleasure of meeting Vicki Kortsen, granddaughter of Harold and Lillian Earley who hosted Amelia during her stay in Casa Grande.
The Zonta's met me at the airport in Casa Grande and we discussed their charity work over dinner. Amelia was a Zonta member and supporter.
We were off to bed in anticipation of an early start at 6:30 a.m.!
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