Memorialized

The three local Cheatham kids, pulling back the cover together...

to reveal the beautiful plaque.

And one cute grandkid 

(more on her scraped up nose in a later post)

The crowd disbursed to partake of other Airport Tenant Day festivities.

It was an emotional moment.  The Airport Manager spoke.  He said that Jim Cheatham helped to put this airport 'on the map', and that he (my dad) was largely responsible for the helipad even being there.

Burt spoke for the family, saying that we were all there to "make sure they were doing it right". It was perfect comedy, and sounded EXACTLY like something my dad would say.

He did a great job.

So, then we pulled back the covering.  The plaque looks fantastic.

Later, the Airport presented the family with a runway-light lamp.  It is super cool, but I didn't get a photo.

Also, a man named Dan Wood made an AMAZING brass monument (a rotor mast as a cross) engraved with "James T Cheatham, the helicopter's best friend".  I will post those photos later.

Thanks for memorializing our dad, Salinas Airport.  We are proud.

SW