2023 FOLDS OF HONOR PATRIOTS GALA

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ASM’s club model display at the 2023 Folds of Honor New Mexico’s Patriot Dinner went very well.  The event was held at the Isleta Resort and Casino’s Convention Center in Albuquerque on September 8, 2023.  The Folds of Honor (FoH) provides scholarships for children and spouses of America’s fallen and disabled Service members, and also America’s first responders (police, fire-fighters, EMTs, and paramedics).  The Patriot Dinner is one of their primary fund-raising events with silent auctions and old-fashioned live auctions during the dinner.  This was our fourth model display in support of a FoH event. 

The theme of ASM’s display was “Models of Aircraft, Ships and Military Vehicles Used by the U.S. Services.”  We had about 70 models on two long tables.  We brought 23 tubs and boxes of models but were not able to display them all due to having just two tables. 

The display was set up chronologically beginning with the Korean War and Southeast Asia (Viet Nam) periods at the left end.  The center section had models of Air Defense Command fighters and a BOMARC, Military Airlift Command transports, and Strategic Air Command bombers.  Next were models from the Gulf War and current time aircraft.  We did have representation of US Air Force, US Navy, and US Marine Corps subjects.  On the right end we had helicopters, beach assault ships and vehicles on a water base, and armor/military vehicle models, including Ken Piniak’s large 1/16 scale M1A1 tank.  A lot of former tank drivers talked to Ken about that item.  Many attendees came up and asked if we had a certain type of aircraft. I talked with the grand daughter of a pilot who had flown the F-86 Sabre in the Korean War and had spent some time as a prisoner of war. 

The goals of our ASM club model displays are to promote the hobby of scale modeling; make an outreach for new members; and to perform community service by supporting civic events.  I think we met all those goals with this display, and we were thanked by many attendees and the FoH New Mexico President for being there to support the event.  We did pass out a few ASM fliers as well.  A big thank you to all the ASM members who provided models for the display: Victor Maestas, Steve Brodeur, Mark Vaughn (Cavalcade of Wings), Keith Liotta, Ken Piniak, Frank Randall, Bob Henderson, and Mike and Matt Blohm.  Thanks also to Ken Pinak, and Matt and Mike Blohm for manning the tables.  Pictures of the display and the event are provided below. 

Here is a link for Folds of Honor – New Mexico:   https://newmexico.foldsofhonor.org/

Next up is the ASM club model display at the 2023 Air Force Ball, which has just been moved to November 4, 2023 at the Mountain View Club on Kirtland AFB.  Please consider loaning some USAF-themed models and “Evolution of Flight” models for that event. 

Folds of Honor logo. Unpacking and setting-up 23 tubs of models. Display when the set-up was complete.

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Long hallway at Isleta Conference Center where displays were set up. The ASM display is at far end near the doors to the large banquet/dinner room. Attendees viewing models.

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Models organized chronologically from left to right on the tables.

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Memorial display to deceased New Mexico military and first responders.

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Auction room and dinner room, and event in progress.

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Packing-up.

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