City: East Wenatchee

Category: General

Winner or Honorable Mention:

Title of the Project: City Theme Project

City: East Wenatchee

Population: 7,991

Name: Linda Countryman & Teresa Allen

Title: City Treasurer/ Administrative Assistant

Phone: [phone]

East Wenatchee City Theme Project

1. 
   What it is, Why it was needed.
   

One of the best known figures in aviation history, remembered for the first nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean, from New York to Paris, on

May 20-21,1927, is Charles Lindbergh. Four years later, however, when a paralleling flight across the Pacific Ocean transpired, less notoriety was attached.
On the morning of October 4,1931, Clyde Pangborn and Hugh Herndon boarded their single-engine Bellanca monoplane, the Miss Veedol, in Misawa City, Japan; to begin the historic first nonstop Trans-Pacific flight. The Miss Veedol crash- landed forty-one hours and thirteen minutes later at Fancher Fieldon, on the heights above East Wenatchee.
Today, local residents, many who are friends and sescendants of these two brave aviation pioneers, have joined together with the City of East Wenatchee and other, private groups to commemorate this historical event. Liewis, the citizens of Misawa City, Japan, have taken great pains in their city to reognize Mr. Pangborn and Mr. Herndon.
In 1981, celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the historic flight, a sister City Agreement was signed between the City of Wenatchee and Misawa City. Over the next twenty years, the cities of Wenatchee, East Wenatchee, and Misawa established a cultural exchange relationship, trading delegations between the three cities. In 2001, as part of the twentieth anniversary of the Sister City Agreement, a new agreement was signed by the three cities officially recognizing the City of East Wenatchee as a partner in the agreement.
The 2001 Sister City Agreement was signed by the mayors of all three cities: Mayor Steven C. Lacy, East Wenatchee, Mayor Dennis Johnson, Wenatchee, and Mayor Shigeyoshi Suzuki, Misawa City; at Executive Flights, Pangborn Airport, in East Wenatchee.
Every year, delegations visit the other cities as part of a cultural exchange. The delegations include city representatives and students from the three cities, as well as chaperones and other outstanding citizens. The 2002 Misawa City Delegation visited during the Washington State Apple Blossom Festival. Included in the 2002 Delegations was Masayoshi Kohiruimaki, whosse grandmother hosted Mr. Pangborn and Mr. Herndon during their stay in Masawa City, Japan.
The City of East Wenatchee hosted a public welcoming reception for the 2002 Misawa City Delegation. Both Mayor Lacey and Mayor Johnson as well as other local dignitaries, gave welcoming speeches to the delegation. Entertainment included a video of the actual landing of the Miss Veedol in 1931 and a documentary of the creation and installation of the Pangborn Monument at Fancher Heights; a photograph display of the landing and visiting delegations of the past twenty years; and a karate demonstration. Honored guests included the 2002 Misawa City Delegation and members of the first Wenatchee Delegation to Misawa in 1981.

2. 
   How it Operates.
   

After the signing of the 2001 sister City Agreement, the City of East Wenatchee actively began developing a city theme commemorating the historic Trans-Pacific flight. During the 2002 budget process, the City Council voted to earmark funds for the city theme. To date, the City has moved forward with several projects relating to the city theme and involving the Community.

Recently, the Spirit of Wenatchee Committee, a local private group dedicated to the building of the Miss Veedol (which os scheduled to re-enact the historic flight in 2003), donated a scale model of the Miss Veedol, to the city to be mounted in the City’s Ballard Park. The model was dedicated in a brief ceremony during the visit of the 2002 Misawa Delegation. In honor of the visiting delegating, the City also planted a variety of Japanese Maples, dedicating each tree to a member of the delegation. The construction of the retaining wall supporting the Japanese Maples and tilling of the ground in preparation of the planting was a Community-wide “Makes a Difference Day” project in 2001. Additionally, the City has recently purchased banners commemorating the historic flight. The banners will be displayed throughout the City during the Washington State Apple Blossom Festival and in October to celebrate the anniversary of the flight. A banner was also presented to the 2002 Misawa City Delegation.
As a part of the Festival, East Wenatchee and the Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce host a “Classy Chassis” Parade. Members of the visiting Misawa Delegation are invited to ride the parade route in vintage automobiles, greeting enthusiastic attendees. T-shirts commemorating the Trans-Pacific flight are sold by the Spirit of Wenatchee Committee during this event.
The East Wenatchee City Hall is home to a growing collection of Misawa Sister City related souvenirs. Each year, gifts from the visiting delegation are added to the collection. Visitors to the City Hall are impressed with the beauty of the display and many ask for details regarding the sister cities and the historic flight. In 2002, the city theme was also incorporated into the City’s final budget document.

3. 
   What is Costs.
   

$ 15,000 was included in the City of East Wenatchee 2002 budget for the city theme. The City was very pleased and grateful to also receive many donations from local merchants for the welcoming reception at City Hall. Additionally, the Spirit of Wenatchee Committee, and the Misawa Sister City Organization, assisted with donations and in the planning of the itinerary for the 2002 Delegation.

4. 
   How the City Theme Benefits the City/Community.
   

It is hoped that the establishement of a city theme will benefit tourism in the City of East Wenatchee. As the theme grows, the City will plan other yearly events, and perhaps someday its own festival surrounding the historic flight. Locally, students are receiving a neglected history lesson. The City hopes to extend this lesson to others outside of the Community as well. It is indeed time to recognize the tremendous bravery and aviation contribution of Mr. Clyde Pangborn and Mr. Hugh Herndon.

Internationally, the City of East Wenatchee will continue to maintain a strong sister city relationship and cultural exchange with Misawa City, Japan. Misawa presently leads the way in the recognition of the brave aviators with the entire city dedicated to the memory of the flight. East Wenatchee hopes to mirror Misawa’s efforts and to long last recognize these two incredible men.