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About Us
About the Forest
The International Forest of Friendship is a living, growing memorial to the world history of aviation and aerospace. The Forest was a gift to America on her 200th birthday in 1976 from the City of Atchison, Kansas (the birthplace of Amelia Earhart); The Ninety-Nines (International Organization of Women Pilots), and the Kansas State University, Kansas Forest Service.
Joe Carrigan of Atchison, Kansas, and Fay Gillis Wells, a charter member of The Ninety-Nines and noted journalist, co-chaired the Forest from its inception until their deaths. Their sons, Pat Carrigan and Lin Wells, and families continue their dream of “world friendship through flight.”
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-six territories and countries around the world where honorees reside. There are trees from George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate, the Bicentennial American Spruce, a tree from Amelia's grandfather'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 17 astronauts who gave their lives in America's pioneering of space exploration up to 2001. In 2003 a monument near the tree was dedicated to the seven astronauts lost on the Shuttle Columbia.
Winding through the Forest are pathways honoring those who have, or still are, contributing to all facets of aviation and aerospace. The original path is called Memory Lane and leads to a secluded circle of benches in a grove of trees. All of the Forest's walkways are five feet wide (wheel chair friendly) and embedded in them are granite plaques engraved with the names of over 1,500 honorees. More information about the honorees can be found here.
Included in this illustrious list are markers memorializing such aviation notables as Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh, Jeana Yeager, the Wright Brothers, Sally Ride, Chuck Yeager, General "Jimmy" Doolittle, and Col Eileen M. Collins, the first woman to pilot a shuttle into space. In 1976, Memory Lane was designated as the first National Recreation Trail in Kansas. In 1991, a beautiful gazebo was dedicated to Fay Wells, in honor of her leadership to the Forest. A pond and waterfall honor Joe Carrigan for his many contributions as founding co-chairman. Nearby are the Amelia Earhart Earthworks and the Lake Warnock picnic grounds.
Within the overall theme of "world friendship through flight," annual themes allow for the exploration of specific focus areas such as "discovery though flight," "flying and forests," "flying, forests and the future," and "security and solace through flight."
The International Forest of Friendship is a 501-(c) (3) charitable organization the EIN number for a tax deduction is 45-2675231.
Fay Gillis Wells & Joe Carrigan
Co-Founders
History
African Americans in Aviation & Aerospace February 22, 2014
African Americans in Aviation & Aerospace February 22, 2014
Celebrating Women in Aviation and Space March 15, 2014
African Americans in Aviation & Aerospace February 22, 2014
2017 Induction Ceremony: Flying, Forests, and the Future June 16-17, 2017
This year’s theme focused on “Flying, Forests and the Future,” emphasizing contributions of young people to all aspects of aviation and aerospace. The keynote address was delivered by CAPT Barrington Irving. LT La'Shanda Holmes, USCG, also spoke.
2016 Induction Ceremony: World Friendship through Flight June 17 - 18, 2016
This event honored the Forest's overall theme of World Friendship through Flight, including spaceflight and the increasing use of unmanned vehicles and remote sensing to address problems across borders. We honored the U.S. Coast Guard on the 100th anniversary of Coast Guard Aviation, and also celebrated our international friends and expanded our partnerships. Our distinguished speaker was to have been Capt. Barry Schiff, known for his "Operation Peace Flight," but he was unable to attend at the last minute. The keynote address was delivered by Ms. Tracey Tomme, Vice President of Education of the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, who spoke eloquently about the Kansas Cosmosphere's attractions, exploration activities and learning programs.
2015 Induction Ceremonies: Forests and Flying June 19 - 20, 2015
2014 Induction Ceremonies: Discovery Through Flight June 13 - 14, 2014
In 2015, we honored foresters who fly, smoke jumpers, pilots and operators of fire tankers, those who have contributed to remote sensing of ecosystems and habitat monitoring, precision agriculture, etc. Our distinguished speaker was Dr. Greg Asner, Principal Investigator at Carnegie Airborne Observatory. Read his bio here, or watch his cool Ted Talk here.
2014 Induction Ceremonies: Discovery Through Flight June 13 - 14, 2014
2014 Induction Ceremonies: Discovery Through Flight June 13 - 14, 2014
This celebration had a particular focus on “Women of Discovery,” honoring the 29 women astronauts who flew on Shuttle Discovery during her 39 missions. The 2014 distinguished speaker was Sandy Magnus, the Executive Director of American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) in Reston, Virginia. She is also a veteran of four space shuttle flights and an expedition on board the International Space Station.