Queen for a day Local girl with lung disease has her wish come true
A local girl had her wish come true when she got to be queen for a day, thanks to the Make A Wish Foundation.
Julianna Atkins, 7, of Yuba City has had cystic fibrosis, a lifethreatening lung disease, since birth and recently her doctor submitted her name and story to the foundation. Julianna was selected and had her wish come true on Friday, according to Julianna’s mother Alex Atkins.
On Friday morning at a Sacramento Macy’s store, employees dressed as ladies and men in waiting for Julianna. She was escorted to a dressing room where she picked out the dress and jewelry she would wear for the rest of the day. Julianna was then escorted to her throne where she received a crown and scepter. She greeted friends, family and the community from the second floor overlooking the courtyard. After opening the store at 10 a.m., Julianna rode home in a limousine to conclude her day as a queen.
“When we got out to say hi to people and wave like a queen,” Julianna said about her favorite part of the day. “I enjoyed all of it.”
Alex Atkins said it was an emotional day for her to experience a whole day about her daughter.
“It was amazing,” Atkins said. “Probably more than I expected.”
Her favorite part of the morning was when Julianna walked down a red carpet lined with Macy’s employees and had a “prince” read out a proclamation that
a sad day for America. After Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier, we all had permission to break barriers. Many didn’t make it through World War II, most didn’t make it through the early days of test piloting. There were so many affected in the wars that followed. The odds of survival for Chuck were as narrow as the odds of America gaining its own freedom. He was a man that would emerge from the wilds of the back Sierras after 30-day treks. He was strong, smart, careful, and well-planned. Chuck Yeager represented the best of us. For me, Chuck Yeager will always be the sound of freedom.”
Mary Jane Griego, owner of Duke’s Diner, where Yeager and wife, Victoria, would visit:
“Chuck and Victoria would come in to eat either before or after spending time at the Yuba County Airport. They loved supporting a local diner. He had a good appetite and always had a smile. …We felt really honored that an American hero like him would visit this small little diner. We were always excited when he came in. He liked to stay low key.” Beale Air Force Base:
“Ret. Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager, the pilot who broke the sound barrier in 1947, passed away yesterday at the age of 97. Yeager was a local resident and a frequent visitor to Beale AFB. Let’s take a moment to remember his legacy and the inspiration he’s instilled on generations of airmen. Fly high Chuck and thank you!”
State Sen. Jim Nielsen:
“An American Hero – Chuck Yeager – passed. This decorated U.S.
Air Force pilot broke the sound barrier and changed the world.
Let us remember this extraordinary American.”
Don Schrader, curator of the Museum of the Forgotten Warriors and former Yuba County supervisor:
“It’s amazing that he took his flight training at an air base out in east Marysville. He led a remarkable career and life.”