A NOD TO 50 YEARS OF NORAD

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Mar 31, 2008 | by PAM ZUBECK

From air shows to a gala ball, events to mark the 50th anniversary of the North American Aerospace Defense Command offer something for everyone in coming months.

NORAD began operations at Ent Air Force Base in Colorado Springs on Sept. 12, 1957, and the agreement between Canada and the United States to defend North America from air attacks was signed on May 12, 1958.

Michael Perini, NORAD's public affairs director, said the command will spend up to $250,000 celebrating its 50 years. Some funding will come from an Air Force appropriation for public education; the balance from other sources.

"There's still a lot of work to do to educate and inform the public about NORAD," he said.

"An anniversary like this gives us an opportunity to focus on that. Even in our own state, there are people who are not aware of NORAD and the relationship we have and the responsibilities we have, so it makes sense to do this."

Noting NORAD fighter jets have flown more than 48,000 missions since the Sept. 11 attacks, he said, "It's important to remind people there still is a threat out there and what the men and women are doing 24/7 to dedicate themselves to protecting Canada and the United States."

Perini labeled the NORAD agreement among the most successful binational pacts in modern history.

He said the anniversary is a chance to reflect on the command's history and its evolution through the Cold War to recent years, when maritime monitoring and missile defense were added in an environment of terrorist threats.

"NORAD missions have evolved significantly over the course of the last 50 years," Perini said in a statement, "and will continue to evolve as necessary to ensure the safety of our people and the defense of our homelands."

The commemoration will include:

c Essay and paper airplane contests, the winners of which will have a chance to attend the Golden Jubilee Ball and tour NORAD at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station.

- Educational displays in airports at Ottawa and Winnipeg, Canada; Washington, D.C., Colorado Springs, Panama City, Fla ., Anchorage, Alaska, and others to be determined.

- Aircraft displays at more than 60 shows across Canada, the U.S. and the United Kingdom, one of the countries from which NORAD fighters deploy.

- Creation of a Colorado license plate commemorating the 50th anniversary, available in July.

- Trade shows and promotional products, including a coffee-table book.

- Golden Jubilee Ball to be held May 12 at The Broadmoor. Tickets for the public cost $140; Prices for active-duty military and military civilians are less.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0238 or pam.zubeck@gazette.com