International Forest of Friendship

"You haven't seen a tree until you've seen its shadow from the sky"
Amelia Earhart

The 2009 ceremony, honoring "Discovery Through Flight" will be held on
June 19-20, 2009

Featured speaker at the 2009 banquet is
General Robert Magnus, Asst. Commandant, U.S.M. C.(Retired)

The Forest is nestled on a gentle slope overlooking Lake Warnock, on the outskirts of Atchison. It is made up of trees from all fifty states and thirty-five countries around the world where Honorees reside. Each tree has its own flag, and on special occasions, the Forest is ablaze with the brilliance of colors of more than 100 flags blowing in the breeze.

There are trees from George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate, the Bicentennial American Spruce, a tree from Amelia's grandfather's farm, a redbud from President Eisenhower's farm, and the Moon Tree grown from a seed taken to the moon by Command Pilot Stuart Roosa on Apollo 14. This latter tree honors the seventeen astronauts who gave their lives in America's pioneering of space exploration. Their names are enshrined around the tree and the names of the living astronauts are put in a protective outer circle. In 2003 a monument near the tree was dedicated to the seven astronauts lost on Shuttle Columbia.

Winding through the Forest is Memory Lane, honoring those who have, or still are, contributing to all facets of aviation and aerospace. It is a five foot wide (wheel chair friendly) walk and embedded in the concrete walk are granite plaques engraved with the names of over 1200 honorees. Included in this illustrious list are markers memorializing such aviation notables as Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh, Jeana Yeager, Rajiv Gandhi, the Wright Brothers, Sally Ride, Chuck Yeager, Beryl Markham, General "Jimmy" Doolittle, President George H. W. Bush, General Colin Powell, and Lt Col (now Col) Eileen M. Collins, the first woman to pilot a shuttle (Discovery) into space. In 1976, Secretary of the Interior, Kleppe dedicated Memory Lane as the first National Recreation Trail in Kansas.

From its inception, the International Forest of Friendship was founded and lead by Fay Gillis Wells From its inception, the International Forest of Friendship was founded and led by Fay Gillis Wells and Joe Carrigan, who served as Co-Chairmen. Fay Wells was one of the Charter members of The Ninety-Nines and has been honored for her great interest and support of aviation and as an outstanding journalist. Joe Carrigan resided in Atchison and was responsible for the daily decisions needed to run the Forest. Unfortunately, we lost Joe in June of 1996 and Fay in 2002. It will be difficult, if not next to impossible, to replace both of them but their sons, Pat Carrigan and Lin Wells, have assumed the duties of Co-Chairmen. In 1991, a beautiful gazebo was dedicated to Fay Wells, in honor of her leadership to the Forest, and paid for by her many friends throughout the World.

The 2009 ceremonies will be held on June 19, 20 and 21. The theme will be "Discovery through Flight," with a special focus on astronautics, flight testing, experimental aircraft, and flights that "push the envelope."

It is a wonderful and peaceful respite from the many pressures of business and everyday living. It is a place of reflection and rededication. It is a place of spiritual communication. It is the INTERNATIONAL FOREST OF FRIENDSHIP.

by Lois Feigenbaum,
Lin Wells and Pat Carrigan

Who are the Honorees inducted into the Forest of Friendship?

• Women and men who have given dedicated service, leadership, friendship and support to help others achieve aviation goals.
  
• Men and women who have been supportive of, and contributed to, all facets of aviation and aerospace, as well as links between flying and forestry. The Honorees need not be pilots.
  
• Pioneers in Aviation and Aerospace.
  
• Aviation writers and educators who spend their lives encouraging others to fly.
  
• Those who have made significant contributions to the development of aviation; and those who have earned recognition for setting aviation records.