Indiana Chapter of the Ninety-Nines, Inc.
International Forest of Friendship
The International Forest of Friendship in Atchison, KS, was the dream on 99's charter member Fay Gillis Wells. Many chapter members have been honored in the Forest - see the pictures below of some recent honorees, and read about Nancy's trip to Atchison in 2003.
 Linda is inducted into the International Forest of Friendship |
 Martha is inducted into the International Forest of Friendship |
On June 20, 2003, I lifted off the runway at Columbus Municipal Airport at 7:10 AM and turned my Cardinal 177 west toward Kansas and the International Forest of Friendship. It was a beautiful day with clear skies and smooth air. At 3000 feet, I picked up a nice tail wind, just as Flight Service had forecast in my early morning briefing. As I watched my groundspeed indicate 138 knots, I realized I could fly non-stop to Atchison if the tailwind held all the way. By the time I neared Kansas City, I knew I was good on fuel, and landed at Amelia Earhart Airport, just northwest of KC, at 10:20 AM.
The International Forest of Friendship, nestled on the gentle slopes overlooking Lake Warnock on the outskirts of Amelia Earhart’s birthplace of Atchison, Kansas, began as a dream in the mind of one person, Fay Gillis Wells. This remarkable woman was a charter member of the Ninety-Nines, International Organization of Women Pilots; close friend of Amelia Earhart, White House correspondent for thirteen years, covering presidents Johnson, Nixon, Ford and Carter; and member of “Who’s Who in the World.” In spite of all her achievements, however, Fay was a modest woman who shunned the spotlight and fanfare. She died December 2, 2002, at age 94.
It was Fay who believed in a Forest of Friendship as a living, growing memorial to the World History of Aviation and Aerospace, symbolizing the 99’s motto “World Friendship Through Flying.” The Forest is made up of trees representing every state in our nation, plus thirty-five countries around the world. Each tree has its own flag and on special occasions the Forest is ablaze with colors of more than 100 flags flying in the Kansas breeze.
Each year in June, the Ninety-Nines and others who support and perpetuate Fay’s dream, gather in Atchison to induct new honorees to be placed in the Memory Lane which winds through the Forest. Granite plaques engraved with the names of over 700 honorees are embedded in Memory Lane, honoring those, both living and dead, who have made significant contributions to the world of aviation and aerospace. Plaques include internationally recognized flyers such as Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh, Jeana Yeager, the Wright Brothers, Sally Ride, Beryl Markham, and many others.
One of my favorite things to do in Atchison is dine at the Riverhouse Restaurant down by the Missouri River. If several of us arrive on Thursday, we all gather at the Riverhouse to eat and socialize. Soon the room is filled with flying stories, laughter and the camaraderie of women pilots. After checking in at the Comfort Inn, we started thinking about lunch and soon had a group eager to head for the Riverhouse. Special members of our group this year were Dr. John and Anne Swengel and their daughter, Jenni from Greenwood, Indiana. This is the family of Julie Swengel, who died in an aviation accident in 1997 during her senior year at Purdue. Julie was a member of the Indiana Chapter of Ninety-Nines and we had chosen to honor Julie’s love for flying by placing her in the Forest of Friendship. John, Anne, and Jenni would accept the certificate for Julie. When we arrived at the restaurant, the beautiful day prompted us to dine out on the terrace where we could watch the river flow by and speculate about how life must have been in the early days of Atchison.
A cocktail party and buffet dinner that evening at the Benedictine College Campus cafeteria provided additional opportunities to socialize with other pilots and guests. Also, the schedule of events for the following day was announced. On Saturday morning, a trolley would transport the honorees out to the Forest for the induction ceremony, while others would go by bus or car.
As we walked into the Forest on Saturday morning, the music from the children’s band, carried aloft by the morning breeze, reached our ears as we approached the Gazebo which had been built in honor of Fay Gillis Wells. The honorees would be seated there for the induction ceremony. Nearby stood a tall bronze statue of Amelia Earhart. We walked along Memory Lane to the Indiana Tulip tree to see the new names which had been placed there, and knelt to read them. I found my stone along with Indiana Chapter Chairwoman Sue Sears’, which had been placed there just last year when we were inducted into the Forest. Nearby was Julie Swengel’s, then the Snyder family stones....Mildred, her late husband Jack, his brother Frank, and sons John and Gene. The Snyder family’s backyard landing strip ultimately became the Westfield Airport, thanks to pilots Jack and Frank Snyder.
At 9:45 the Parade of Flags began along Memory Lane, carried by the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of Atchison, and ended with the singing of the Star Spangled Banner. We joined in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the invocation and welcome address by the Mayor of Atchison. A special tribute to Fay Gillis Wells was given by her son, Linton Wells, followed by the dedication of the Columbia Shuttle Memorial, newly added to the Forest. Linton was joined by Cindy Carrigan, daughter of Pat Carrigan, who shared the duties for the presentation of the certificates. As each honoree’s name was called, he or she (or a representative) came forward to the podium while his/her biography was read, and received the certificate.
Sitting there in the morning sunshine with soft country breezes caressing you, it is so easy to drift into a reverie as you listen to the stories of all these wonderful people. The Forest does that for you. In a world torn with fear and hatred, it is a place where you feel only the courage, perseverance, and nobility within humanity. It is truly a place of friendship and peace.....just as Fay dreamed it would be.
That evening everyone attended the annual banquet at the Benedictine College Campus. This year we were given a special treat with the showing of a beautiful film of the life of Fay Gillis Wells, narrated by Linton Wells. The film concluded with showing the early morning flight of a small plane over the Forest, just prior to our arrival there for the induction ceremonies. As we watched, Fay’s ashes were released from the plane over her beloved Forest of Friendship. Fay was home.
More Photos from Past Trips...
 Betty, Sue, and Nancy |
 Nancy with John and Martha King |
 Members Gather for Lunch |
 Nancy with the Amelia Earhart Statue
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