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Paper airplane tradition flies high

Young and young-at-heart participate in yearly event

BRETT DUNLAP Special to the Times All of the male participants at Sunday's 2017 Great Paper Airplane Contest held at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Marietta did a "Charles Lindbergh" competition. All of the girls at the event did an "Amelia Earhart" competition as well.

A number of participants from around the area got the chance Sunday to spread their wings during the 2017 Great Paper Airplane Contest held at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Marietta.

Around a dozen participants, ranging in age from a few years to well into adulthood, gathered at the church at 232 Third St. to fold and fly a variety of paper airplanes.

Event coordinator Diane McMichael said the contest has been held for many years.

“People of all ages flew paper airplanes they made,” she said. “It is a tradition that has been going on at this church for more than 30 years.

“It is a good way to spend a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon having good fun.”

There were three contest categories, including accuracy, duration and distance. The participants were divided into three age groups, 0-5 years old, 6-11 years old and 12 and beyond. The entry fee was a donation of a non-perishable item for the local food pantry.

“It is a way of raising awareness and gathering things for a very important cause,” McMichael said.

The participants gathered in the church’s balcony and threw their creations out. For one contest they tried to hit a target below while other contests dealt with flying distance and the amount of time their airplanes remained in the air.

“It is a lot of fun,” McMichael said. “It is creative and everyone is able to enjoy a little bit of competition.”

This year, the contest added an “Amelia Earhart” competition for distance where all the females competed against each other and a “Charles Lindbergh” competition where all the males competed against each other.

“It was 90 years ago (Sunday) that Charles Lindbergh finished his trans-Atlantic flight, the first time someone had flown all the way across the Atlantic,” McMichael said.

The Japanese and Chinese were making paper airplanes over 2,000 years ago. The Wright Brothers used paper to test out early designs for their airplane and some engineers at aviation manufacturers, like Lockheed Martin, still use paper in testing ideas they have for new designs.

“You are doing something people have been doing for thousands of years,” McMichael said to those assembled.

Katy McDaniel, of Marietta, brought a group of kids with her who enjoy the competition.

“We love it,” she said. “It is our third year here.”

The three kids, ages 4-9, always look forward to the event.

“As soon as last year’s contest is done they are already designing the winning one for next year,” McDaniel said. “They get so excited about it.”

Ami Rush, of Marietta, brought her 5-year-old daughter Josilyn Jones to the contest to enjoy some time together.

“This was something we did for her to have fun and to be part of the community,” Rush said. “It is a bond we have to be able to do something as a family.”

Josilyn won the Amelia Earhart competition and was awarded a ribbon and a book on Earhart.

Joseph Beaumier, of Williamstown, came with his friend Aaron Reynolds of Marietta. Both were in the 12 and beyond category.

“It was a rainy day so we came out to just have fun,” Beaumier said.

Organizers thought that rainy conditions in the area might have kept some people away as many may not have known the event is held inside the church.

McMichael wanted people to just enjoy themselves.

“I hope they create a happy memory and I hope this becomes a tradition for them,” she said. “I think our traditions anchor our memories.”

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