A message from the Commander.

October 9th, 2006

Once again we would like to thank all of our sponsors, supporters and the hundreds of volunteers for their contributions and efforts towards three phenomenal years of Wings 'N Wheels.

Over the past six months the Wings 'N Wheels organizing committee has been trying to meet the expectations and conditions set forth by the St. Lucie County International Airport and the county administration. When demands from St. Lucie County were too unrealistic to meet we sought assistance from the Board of County Commissioners. Following countless unreturned phone calls, letters and requests, following meetings that ended with county staff and commissioners insulting the show and show staff, damage disputes and Commissioner Coward abruptly leaving negotiations it was determined that Victory Forge Military Academy would not be able to produce the airshow in the county its called home for over 24 years.

Unfortunately when Wings 'N Wheels went to consider Vero Beach Municipal Airport as a new home of the show, the airport director took his only direction and advice from St. Lucie County and did not seek out other airshows or airports for industry standards and procedures. Therefore, shortly after discussions started, they were ended.

As a result, for many of the same reasons we considered it impractical to host a show at the St. Lucie County International Airport the organizing committee felt that it would be too costly and inordinately difficult to produce an airshow event the caliber of Wings 'N Wheels at the Vero Beach Municipal Airport.

As with any airshow the sponsoring charity relies a great deal on the support and good will from the hosting airport and government. It is extremely important that the local governments recognize the importance of the tremendous economic impact and socio-economic impact that an airshow has on the community, its citizens and area businesses. Expecting that major operational plans, layouts and agreements be determined months earlier than typically detailed, significant restrictions on potential revenue sources, restrictions of vendors and sponsors as well as the requirement of a very large cash security deposit on top of a comprehensive insurance policy far exceeding industry standard are indications that perhaps the St. Lucie County Board of Commissioners as well as Vero Beach City Commissioners are not familiar with the operations of a large airshow, are not taking into consideration the practices and standards from other airshows and perhaps most importantly, do not recognize the tremendous positive impact large airshow events have on hosting communities at the sole expense of the organizing charity.

It is with great regret that we must inform our friends, fans and supporters that Victory Forge Military Academy will not be planning an airshow for 2007. We hope that you will continue to support Victory Forge Military Academy and its important role of rebuilding the lives of troubled young men.

Sincerely,

Col. Alan Weierman

Victory Forge Military Academy