Commemorative Air Force RISE ABOVE Squadron announces retirement of longtime educational exhibit docents.

**(RED WING, MN – August 25, 2020) **- The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) RISE ABOVE Squadron announces Terry and Jeanette Hollis, their longtime docent team for the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit, have retired. During their 10 years of service, the Hollis’ traveled nearly 200 thousand miles throughout the United States and Canada bringing the stories and legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen and Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) to thousands of students and adults at airshows, schools, and museums. Terry and Jeanette were the team’s first and only exhibit docents and they set a high standard of excellence for its operation. RISE ABOVE Squadron leader Doug Rozendaal said, "Terry and Jeanette have been with us from the beginning of the RISE ABOVE Exhibit. They have become a fixture in the North American Airshow industry. They are loved by Airshow producers, educators, and museum staff members across North America. We cannot overstate the impact Terry and Jeanette have had on young people in this country as they shared the RISE ABOVE Story. We wish them good luck in their retirement. They will be missed."
A search for new docents is currently underway. Nearly all the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit events have been cancelled or postponed during the 2020 season due to COVID-19. The CAF RISE ABOVE team believes 2021 will be a busy year for their educational initiative and are optimistic the transition to new exhibit personnel will be seamless.

About CAF RISE ABOVE The CAF RISE ABOVE is a volunteer-driven non-profit organization dedicated to educating audiences across the country about the history and legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen, America’s first black military pilots and their support personnel, and the Women Airforce Service Pilots. The CAF RISE ABOVE educational initiative is a three-fold outreach program, including a fully restored WWII-era P-51C Mustang, the signature aircraft of the Tuskegee Airmen; the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit 53’ mobile theater featuring the original panoramic film Rise Above: Red Tail and Rise Above: WASP; and resource materials for teachers, parents, and youth leaders. Each year, they embark on a nine-month cross-country tour that includes appearances at air shows, schools, museums, and community events. The group’s Six Guiding Principles – Aim High, Believe In Yourself, Use Your Brain, Be Ready To Go, Never Quit and Expect to Win – serve as the foundation for their outreach programs and are based on the experiences and successes of the Tuskegee Airmen and the WASP. The CAF RISE ABOVE Squadron is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization part of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). Learn more at www.cafriseabove.org

About the Commemorative Air Force The Commemorative Air Force is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Dallas, and the recognized leader of the Warbird Movement — the effort to preserve and honor American military aviation history. Since it was founded in 1957, the CAF has accrued 170 historic aircraft — the largest collection of vintage military aircraft in the world. Educational outreach programs impact an estimated 20 million Americans each year thanks to over 12,000 volunteers who support the CAF nationally and overseas. The Commemorative Air Force honors the men and women who built, maintained, and flew in American airplanes during World War II. The organization believes that is best accomplished by maintaining the airplanes in flying condition; taking the airplanes to the people, allowing them to experience the sight and sound of the aircraft in flight. For more information, visit www.commemorativeairforce.org

Press Contact Kim Pardon CAF RISE ABOVE Educational Outreach Program pr@cafriseabove.org (913) 636-6250

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