SOAR! was held at the Warsaw Municipal Airport on Thursday, June 8. It allowed Cardinal Services clients and members of the general public to experience airplanes, emergency vehicles and more up close. Here, Thea Stanley poses inside a Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory truck.

Text and Photos
By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Those wanting to view airplanes, emergency vehicles and more up close got that chance at the Warsaw Municipal Airport on Thursday, June 8, at the second annual SOAR! event.

Along with airplanes, people could see Warsaw Police Department and Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office vehicles, a Lutheran EMS ambulance, Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory equipment and a Kosciusko County Highway Department truck, among other vehicles.

The event was initially started for Cardinal Services clients, said Airport Manager Nick King.

“My line supervisor Ray Scott’s wife works at Cardinal, and the two of them thought it would be a fun way to get Cardinal clients to come out to be able to see aircraft and other equipment that they don’t normally get to go out and see,” said King. “He brought me the idea, and we sat down and did it, and this is year two and what we’ve come up with so far.”

With it going well last year, “Cardinal (was the one) that actually said, ‘Let’s open it up to the public and invite everybody out,’ and we thought that was a great idea,” added King. “And this year, we invited the county (to bring vehicles).”

Personal and business aircraft were on display. No rides in them were given, but King said that may be a possibility at next year’s SOAR!

Money was also raised for Cardinal Services through T-shirt and food sales.

“We’re excited that so many people from the public are coming out,” said King. “We’re hoping to make this an annual event and hopefully make it even bigger and better next year.”

Cardinal Business Development Director Tony Peterson shared how the event benefits the organization’s clients.

“It gives them an opportunity to see new things, new vehicles, vehicles that many of us love and enjoy and also connect with our community,” he said.

Peterson mentioned having the general public come this year allows them to learn about “what Cardinal does and the programs they offer.”

“It gives the community an opportunity to spend some time with some of the people that we support as well as enjoy the vehicles that are here,” he said.

Some of those who came out included those in the area Early Head Start program, which falls under Cardinal’s umbrella of services.

“We have play groups twice a month, so we wanted to meet our families here … so they could be exposed to the wonderful vehicles and airplanes and stuff like that,” said Early Head Start home-based teacher Sandi Beery. “I think they’re enjoying themselves.”

Jaxson Young stands by one of the planes on display.

A group from Cardinal Services poses by one of the planes.

First responders at the event had fun posing for media members. From left: Lutheran EMS EMT Terry Brown, Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory Battalion Chief Brooks Huffer, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Sgt. Doug Light, WWFT Lt. Brent Fifer and Warsaw Police Department Cpl. Phil Reed.

Bennett Silcox stands on the wing of a plane.

People wait in line to check out a plane.