National Guard plane named for Grove City
More than 60 Grove City residents are members of the 121st Air Refueling Wing, a unit that regularly flies across the globe to refuel military aircraft in the air.
Now one of their refueling planes will honor their city’s heritage.
The wing dedicated a KC-135 Stratotanker as the “Pride of Grove City” on Thursday at the Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in southern Franklin County, where it’s based. About 20 officials and community members attended the private ceremony, toured the 136-foot-long aircraft and learned more about the guard’s mission.
Grove City Mayor Richard “Ike” Stage called the honor humbling.
“This is about the warriors — those who were killed in action and gave their lives, who were part of our community and this great nation,” he said, noting the sacrifices of Grove City veterans since World War II.
The city and the base share a rich history, Stage said.
For decades, airmen have spent off-duty hours in Grove City, he said. A book on World War II he recently finished mentioned airmen traveling to the suburb — a village at that time — to visit restaurants, the Grove City Community Club and a bygone duckpin-bowling center on Broadway.
The act of dedicating and decorating military aircraft is steeped in history, too.
Since the early days of flight, aviators have applied personalized markings to their aircraft, a practice that flourished during World War II to evoke unit pride. The practice faded away in the latter half of the 20th century, though.
But in recent years, the nostalgic tradition is making a comeback.
The 121st Air Refueling Wing chose to dedicate aircraft to local communities to recognize them for supporting the base and its members since it opened 75 years ago.
The practice started in 2015 with the dedication of the “Spirit of Ohio.” Since then, the Wing has dedicated other aircraft in honor of nearby cities and villages in southern Franklin County, including “Pride of Lockbourne” and “Pride of Canal Winchester.” The goal is to gradually present more central Ohio municipalities with the honor.
Col. Mark Auer, the wing’s commander, said it’s a fitting gesture.
The Air National Guard is made up of many local “citizen airmen” who are co-workers, friends and neighbors living otherwiseordinary civilian lives when they’re not called to serve. Their primary area of operation is their home state, although the unit is also trained to respond to disasters.
“What makes the Guard the Guard are the daughters and sons of these communities,” Auer said.
“They’re always ready and always there, whether you need help on the far side of
the world or, heaven forbid, there’s a need for help right here in Grove City.”