West Hempstead resident Charlie Daly of the Long Island Early Fliers was joined by Gerald Kessler, president of the Friends for Long Island's Heritage and Joseph Hanshe, president of Long Island Early Fliers, during a recent inspection of a restored Bleriot Monoplane from the turn of the century. A similar aircraft flew the first US mail flight from Uniondale to Mineola¬a death defying distance of six miles. In meeting beside the plane, the men announced the creation of a strategic partnership designed to keep alive the priceless local aviation history created by members of the Early Fliers, through a $250,000 grant from the Fliers that will underwrite displays and programs scheduled at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City.

To find out more about the Aerospace Honor Roll and The Cradle of Aviation Museum, contact The Friends for Long Island's Heritage at 571-7606 or reach them at their website at www.fflih.org. or at the Cradle's website www.cradleofaviation.org.