8
BEHIND THE SCENES
MARCH 9�16, 2022
FROM THE
COVER
Pendleton Air Museum soars with history
By Tammy Malgesini
Go! Magazine
HONORING VOLUNTEERS
Veterans Bob Stangier, 98, and Ken
Garrett, 90, will be honored during the
Pendleton Air Museum’s annual meet
and greet set for Thursday, March 24,
5:30 p.m. at Mac’s Bar & Grill, 1400
SW Dorion Ave. in Pendleton.
All are welcome. Order food in
advance by calling 541-278-5531 or
online at www.macsbargrill.com.
P
ENDLETON — With the goal of
preserving Pendleton’s aviation and
military history, a group of enthusiasts
initially formed a couple of decades ago.
And in September 2017, they opened
the doors to the Pendleton Air Museum,
21 SW Emigrant Ave. Current operating
hours are Monday and Thursday through
Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sundays
noon-2 p.m.
The collection is tucked away in a
200-square-foot space, but the mu-
seum’s 12-member board of directors
has high hopes to spread its wings in
the future. Debbie Rasmussen, museum
coordinator, said they are in negotiations
for a larger facility in an undisclosed
downtown Pendleton location.
The museum board, she said, has
been so successful in acquiring arti-
facts that there isn’t adequate display
space. In fact, the Pendleton Air Museum
recently had to turn down the off er of an
F-104 Starfi ghter that was part of the
Oregon National Guard.
Because of space limitations, the
museum regularly rotates its displays.
Rasmussen said visitors can view items
Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian
Korean War Army veteran Ken Garrett, 90,
walks through the Pendleton Air Museum
Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, while volunteering at
the museum.
from several wars, including medals and
memorabilia from World War II, newspa-
per clippings and other publications, gas
masks, mortar shells and munitions, as
well as military uniforms, including those
worn by area residents during their ac-
tive military service.
In addition, the museum often hosts
special events, including its regular
drop-in Operator Coff ee. Throughout
the month of March, visitors are invited
to enjoy a cup of joe — featured coff ees
are Swat Command (saluting canine
soldiers and their human partners), Night
Shift (recognizing doctors and nurses)
and 2 In 2 Out (honoring fi refi ghters).
Rasmussen said during a special canine
salute — March 13-19 — biscuits will
be available for dogs and cookies for
humans, and in observance of Vietnam
War Veterans Day, all Vietnam vets will
receive a service ornament on Monday,
March 28.
Also, a pair of nonagenarians will soon
be recognized as volunteers of the year.
Bob Stangier, a 98-year-old World War
II Air Force veteran, and Ken Garrett, a
90-year-old Korean War Army veteran,
will be honored during the museum’s
annual meet and greet. Mike Short, one
of the museum’s founders, will be the
special speaker.
The no-host event is Thursday, March
Spring Classes at Crossroads
Classes Starting in March
Ongoing Classes
Portrait Painting with Acrylic
March 15, 22, 29; April 5, 12, 18, 26
Wednesdays
Learn to Love Watercolor and Pastels
Fridays
Young Artists’ Studio
Beginning Clog Dance
March 28 – May 16
Saturdays
Adult Open Studio
Adult Intermediate Wheel Throwing
March 30, April 6, Apr 27
Beginning Kumihimo
March 31
2020 Auburn Avenue
Baker City, Oregon
541.523.5369
www.crossroads-arts.org
www.crossroads-arts.org
Crossroads is open Monday through Saturday
from 10:00am to 5:00pm
Children’s Ballet
Tuesday
Ballet I
March 29 – May 17
Wednesday
Ballet II
March 30 – May 18
Thursday
Ballet III
March 31 – May 20
24, 5:30 p.m. at Mac’s Bar & Grill, 1400
SW Dorion Ave. in Pendleton. Order food
in advance by calling 541-278-5531 or
via www.macsbargrill.com.
Upcoming events off er a chance to
have fun while raising money for the mu-
seum’s building fund. They include:
• 80th Remembrance of the Doolittle
Raid, April 18, 5 p.m. at BackFire Station,
911 SW Court Ave., Pendleton. Tickets
for the 1940s-style dinner and silent
auction event are $30 each.
• USO-style Dance, April 23, 6 p.m.
in the Let ‘er Buck Room at the Pend-
leton Round-Up Grounds. Tickets are
$25 for museum members and $30 for
non-members. The Brass Fire Band will
play music from the 1940s and beyond.
People are encouraged to don period
style from the 1930s to 1950s, with door
prizes presented to the best dressed.
The museum has gift shop items,
including hats, ornaments, T-shirts,
commemorative patches, the documen-
tary DVD “World War II in a Wild West
Town” and more. For more information,
including a link to its GoFundMe build-
ing fund campaign, visit www.pendleto-
nairmuseum.org. For answers to other
questions, call 541-276-6156 or email
pendletonairmuseum@gmail.com.