Post by Jonel on Dec 15, 2003 10:07:31 GMT -5
Rain puts damper on First Flight festivities
The Virginian-Pilot
© December 15, 2003
Last updated: 3:07 AM
KILL DEVIL HILLS — Rain was the only action in the sky Sunday at the First Flight Centennial, where heavy downpours for most of the day caused cancellations of all flyovers and air shows.
People who braved the wet to see the Motown quintet The Temptations had to squeeze into the 1,000-person capacity Centennial Pavilion. Many were turned away at the door.
The performance also was broadcast on giant screens and on the sound system throughout the 250-acre site.
The third day of the six-day event marking the 100th anniversary of Wilbur and Orville Wright’s first flight on Dec. 17, 1903, was attended by about 6,300 people. About 32,000 tickets had been sold for the day.
By the time the rain subsided at about 2:30 p.m. – nearly 3 inches had fallen – water had pooled in pathways, by curbs and around exhibit tents.
But a few determined ticket holders, taking advantage of the letup in the rain, were still coming through the gates after 3 p.m. Programming ends at 4 p.m. daily, and gates close at 5 p.m.
Hours before The Temptations took the stage at 1:15 p.m, the Centennial Pavilion’s exhibit area and auditorium were filled to the brim with attendees trying to get out of the deluge.
Many who had found a seat for the day’s opening ceremony at 10:30 p.m didn’t budge when it was over, keeping it claimed for the big show.
After all the seats were filled, people staked out spots on the floor close to the stage where they were allowed to sit. Giggling like teenagers, two retired schoolteachers were obviously thrilled with their vantage points.
“We just love The Temptations,” said Beverly Fleming from her post yards from the stage. “We can’t miss this.”
Fleming, who is from Washington, D.C., and her friend Margaret Evans have been serving as volunteers for the centennial event. Because of the inclement weather, they were assigned to stuffing courtesy bags in the morning, then were released from duty.
“We thought we’d be outside in the bleachers,” said Evans, who lives in Fairfax Station, Va. “We like the rain.”
Marilyn Cronin and her husband, Tim, of Philadelphia went to the pavilion more than an hour before The Temptations were scheduled to perform, but they only managed to find a place to stand along the wall.
“Mainly, I wanted to see them,” Marilyn Cronin said. “We went to NASA. Then we had lunch. Then we came here.”
Even with the tight quarters, music lovers danced in place and clapped along with the group. Many, dressed for the outdoors, were sweating in the room that was, by then, very warm.
National Park Service rangers started turning people away before the musicians began playing.
Gaynel Magill had bought a ticket on Saturday so that she could see The Temptations. She said they cut off admittance when she arrived.
“I didn’t get here early enough, obviously,” she said, adding that she was still hoping to get in partway through the show. “We’re all in agreement,” she said, nodding to others waiting by the door. “We would have stood out in the rain to watch them.”
Others who missed the concert put up their umbrellas and stood outside by the open side door to watch.
There was concern at one point during the performance that a person who had been escorted from the site had returned, but it turned out to be a false alarm, said Gordon Wissinger, National Park Service incident commander.
Wissinger said that there was an attempt to breach security on Friday night, but the person was escorted off the site.
Charges are pending, he said. The only items that have been confiscated in security screenings, he said, were a few pocket knives.
Considering the near-constant showers most of the day, Kim Sawyer, coordinator with the First Flight Centennial Commission, said it was a wonder that as many showed up as they did.
“It’s a hardy bunch,” she said. “They came out, and they enjoyed the exhibits. I’m really pleased. I think it just shows the excitement that people have for this event that they were willing to come out in the rain.”
Reach Catherine Kozak at (252) 441-1711 or cate. kozak@pilotonline.com
The Virginian-Pilot
© December 15, 2003
Last updated: 3:07 AM
KILL DEVIL HILLS — Rain was the only action in the sky Sunday at the First Flight Centennial, where heavy downpours for most of the day caused cancellations of all flyovers and air shows.
People who braved the wet to see the Motown quintet The Temptations had to squeeze into the 1,000-person capacity Centennial Pavilion. Many were turned away at the door.
The performance also was broadcast on giant screens and on the sound system throughout the 250-acre site.
The third day of the six-day event marking the 100th anniversary of Wilbur and Orville Wright’s first flight on Dec. 17, 1903, was attended by about 6,300 people. About 32,000 tickets had been sold for the day.
By the time the rain subsided at about 2:30 p.m. – nearly 3 inches had fallen – water had pooled in pathways, by curbs and around exhibit tents.
But a few determined ticket holders, taking advantage of the letup in the rain, were still coming through the gates after 3 p.m. Programming ends at 4 p.m. daily, and gates close at 5 p.m.
Hours before The Temptations took the stage at 1:15 p.m, the Centennial Pavilion’s exhibit area and auditorium were filled to the brim with attendees trying to get out of the deluge.
Many who had found a seat for the day’s opening ceremony at 10:30 p.m didn’t budge when it was over, keeping it claimed for the big show.
After all the seats were filled, people staked out spots on the floor close to the stage where they were allowed to sit. Giggling like teenagers, two retired schoolteachers were obviously thrilled with their vantage points.
“We just love The Temptations,” said Beverly Fleming from her post yards from the stage. “We can’t miss this.”
Fleming, who is from Washington, D.C., and her friend Margaret Evans have been serving as volunteers for the centennial event. Because of the inclement weather, they were assigned to stuffing courtesy bags in the morning, then were released from duty.
“We thought we’d be outside in the bleachers,” said Evans, who lives in Fairfax Station, Va. “We like the rain.”
Marilyn Cronin and her husband, Tim, of Philadelphia went to the pavilion more than an hour before The Temptations were scheduled to perform, but they only managed to find a place to stand along the wall.
“Mainly, I wanted to see them,” Marilyn Cronin said. “We went to NASA. Then we had lunch. Then we came here.”
Even with the tight quarters, music lovers danced in place and clapped along with the group. Many, dressed for the outdoors, were sweating in the room that was, by then, very warm.
National Park Service rangers started turning people away before the musicians began playing.
Gaynel Magill had bought a ticket on Saturday so that she could see The Temptations. She said they cut off admittance when she arrived.
“I didn’t get here early enough, obviously,” she said, adding that she was still hoping to get in partway through the show. “We’re all in agreement,” she said, nodding to others waiting by the door. “We would have stood out in the rain to watch them.”
Others who missed the concert put up their umbrellas and stood outside by the open side door to watch.
There was concern at one point during the performance that a person who had been escorted from the site had returned, but it turned out to be a false alarm, said Gordon Wissinger, National Park Service incident commander.
Wissinger said that there was an attempt to breach security on Friday night, but the person was escorted off the site.
Charges are pending, he said. The only items that have been confiscated in security screenings, he said, were a few pocket knives.
Considering the near-constant showers most of the day, Kim Sawyer, coordinator with the First Flight Centennial Commission, said it was a wonder that as many showed up as they did.
“It’s a hardy bunch,” she said. “They came out, and they enjoyed the exhibits. I’m really pleased. I think it just shows the excitement that people have for this event that they were willing to come out in the rain.”
Reach Catherine Kozak at (252) 441-1711 or cate. kozak@pilotonline.com
;D
