The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1919-11-13
MADE TRIP FROM FORT SMITH
ABOUT 65 MILES. IN EXACTLY
FIFTY MINUTES.
COMNEMORATED THE
SIGNING OF ARMISTICE
Frank Fried Post, American Legion,
Had Charge of Program on Anniyer-
sary of One Of Worlds Greatest
Eyents-Speaking at Courthouse.

Mena celebrated the first anniver-
sary Of the signing Of the armistice
by getting her first view of an air
lplane.
The advent Of the great mechanical
bird was the first time this wonderful
Invention of man had ever been visi-
BILE in the skies above Polk's capital
lcity, and was the result of the com
bined effort Of the Frank Fried Post
Of the American Legion, and the Mena
Commercial Club.
j Thousands Of persons gathered to
celebrate the anniversary Of the
silencing of the guns in the greatest
war in history, and Armistice Day,
1919, will be memorable day in
Mena's history, and to the initial Wis
lit Of the winged craft Is due most
lcredit for an epochal event.
| 1t was day perfect for the cele-
lbration that means SO much to the ma
ton, and to our own Polk county,
which sent more than 500 Of its brave
young men into the worldwide strug-
gle across the seas.
| Conditions Perfect
4 The clearest of sunshine, the bluest
Of skies, and just tinge of frost in
the early hours, with increasing
So. 49,, ~ 4h n,,., ,..x.<, L.rt.,. -. IL,
the day ideal for human comfort, and
there was scarcely breeze to inter-
fere with the airplane eyolntions.
i When Lieut.. G. Eugene Johnson,
birdman extraordinary and late in
Uncle Sans air service, appeared in
the northern skies at $50 in the
morning, there was a craning Of necks
land hurried rush Of spectators for
points of vantage. More eyes were
turned heavenward in Mena during
the next few minutes than have been
for ages past.
There he goes!" was the spontane-
Gus cry, and as the tiny speck, visible
lover the top of the hills became larger
and larger, the progress of the fastly
moving airplane was watched with the
keenest interest.
4 The great mechanical bird scared
over the eastern part Of the city until
the landing spot at the new race track
grounds was sighted. then swooped
downward and landed safely, to the
relief of the thousands who had
watched the fight.
n When Lieutenant johnson stepped
out he was the first air pilot to put
foot on Mena's SOIL
Carried Passenger.
/ Accompanied by Lieut.. M. A. Mill
Her, also of the United States Army.
1.-THE daring navigator Of the ozone had
made the IS mile trip from Fort Smith
to Mena in exactly so minutes, or
well more than mile minute. The
loriginal plan had been for the flyers to
larrive in Mena during Monday after
noon, but engine trouble forced the
plane to descend at Fort Smith late
lin the day and the journey to Mena
was not finished until the next morn
ling.
i Immediately upon landing the air
lplane passengers were met by COM
lmittee of the American Legion and
welcomed to Mena. In company with
lT. H. Duke, the visitors were taken to
IThe. Antlers. where they had an op-
4 Iportunity to rest before taking up
THE strenuous days work ef exhibi-
| ton fiying.
i While resting at the hotel, Lieut..
lJohnson found time to greet a repre-
sentative Of The Star. He declared
/ the trip from Fort Smith to Mena had
been uneventful. nothing happening
to mar the flight, which was historic
4 in that his airplane wos the first to