Stafford County Memorial Day Ceremony Features Mobile History Exhibit: Rise Above - Unsung Heroes of WWII Skies

Stafford County will honor and remember the fallen at the Stafford Regional Airport this year with a mobile history unit and a vintage airplane. The Rise Above exhibit features a mobile unit with a 160-degree theater recounting the incredible history and legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen and the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs). There will be interpretive displays and a restored P-51 Mustang. The ceremony will take place at 10 am on Friday, May 22, 2026, at the airport located at 95 Aviation Way, Fredericksburg, VA 22406. Chris Allen, the Rise Above Road Exhibit Director, will be the keynote speaker, along with Stafford County Board of Supervisors Chairman Deuntay Diggs.

"Memorial Day is when we honor and recognize those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country as well as their families," said Chairman of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors Deuntay Diggs. "We are honored to have the opportunity to share the history of the Tuskegee Airmen and the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II and were given limited recognition at the time."

Chris Allen is the Director of the Commemorative Air Force Rise Above Squadron's Traveling Exhibit and P-51C Mustang. The Exhibit crosses the country, approximately ten months of each year, covering 30-40 thousand road miles, to share original documentaries about the Tuskegee Airmen and Women Airforce Service Pilots - the famed 'Red Tails' and WASP. Allen is a 40-year veteran first responder and adjunct professor at Dallas College, Texas, a graduate in History from Western Kentucky University and The Ohio State University.

Again, the Memorial Day Ceremony event is at the following:

• Stafford County Regional Airport: 95 Aviation Way, Fredericksburg, VA 22406
• May 22, 2026 at 10 am (follow the signs)

The CAF RISE ABOVE Squadron is an educational outreach program that brings the history and legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen and Women Airforce Service Pilots to life in communities and classrooms everywhere. Common to both groups of pilots was the ability to recognize that all of the obstacles they faced could be overcome with hard work and dedication.

The exhibit consists of:

• A 53' mobile movie theater featuring two compelling original short RISE ABOVE films that tell the story of the Tuskegee Airmen or the WASP.
• A fully restored WWII-era P-51C Mustang, the signature aircraft of the Tuskegee Airmen.
• Extensive educational resources are provided for students, teachers, youth leaders, parents and anyone looking to learn more and be inspired by these remarkable American trailblazers.
• To learn more, visit: www.cafriseabove.org

The exhibit will be on display at the airport from 10 am - 4 pm daily, starting Friday, May 22, through Monday, May 25. Groups may request special viewings by emailing [email protected].