The National Park Service has begun development of a new park honoring the Tuskegee Airmen, African-American fighter pilots whose role in World War II went unnoticed for years.
The new national historic site will be in Moton Field, near Tuskegee, Ala., where the pilots were trained, and it will offer period aircraft and exhibits about the airmen and the role the U.S. military played in the war.
The Airmen, nicknamed the "Lonely Eagles," completed 1,578 missions, destroying more than 260 enemy aircraft, sinking an enemy destroyer and dis-mantling many enemy installations. In a time when civil rights for blacks were few, these men overcame many obstacles to fight for the nation.
The project will cost $25 million and will take a few years to complete. Meanwhile, both the nearby Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site at Tuskegee University and the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., offer information on the airmen:
* Tuskegee Institute, 334-727-3200, http://www.nps.gov/tuin/
STABLES TO OPEN GATES TO VISITORS
More than 20 professional stables in southeast Pennsylvania will welcome visitors to tour their grounds next weekend during the seventh annual "Pennsylvania Horse Farms Open House." Horse lovers can learn about breeds, styles of riding and rearing techniques and enjoy sample riding, a petting zoo and a horse show by the American Horse Shows Association.
Other highlights include demonstrations on horseshoeing, equine massage and dentistry and clinics on foaling, genetics and foal imprinting. Featured breeds include popular thoroughbreds and quarter horses to the more rare Paso Finos and Rocky Mountain Horses.
The self-guided tour is free, and refreshments and vendors will be offered at some sites. Stables will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Call 717-898-5874.
* Air Force Academy, 719-333-8723, http://www.usafa.edu
Elvis landmarks
For die-hard Elvis fans comes Bill Yenne's new book, "The Field Guide to Elvis Shrines," a directory to the many places where Elvis made his mark. Along with the more obvious areas -- Memphis, Tupelo, Las Vegas and Hollywood -- the book lists offbeat sites, such as Popular Tunes in Memphis, where Elvis may have bought his first record; Schilling Motors in Memphis, where he bought two cars; and Tupelo Hardware Co., where Gladys Presley bought the King his first guitar. The book, published by Renaissance Books, is available at area bookstores for $15.95.
Airline food, improved
According to the February Self magazine, there are quick solutions to the horror of airline food. Its advice: Request one of the meals prepared for fliers with dietary restrictions. Northwest, along with a handful of other airlines, offers low- cholesterol, kosher or lactose-free meals that can include fruit and cheese plates with honeydew, pineapple, orange slices, Cheddar cheese and a fat-free brownie or an Oriental chicken dish with rice, beans, crackers and grapes.
Healthy travelers
Looking to stay healthy on your next vacation? You don't have to restrict yourself to a spa. Guests at the Peabody Hotel in Orlando, Fla., can get a physical checkup along with a night's sleep. The hotel's recent partnership with the Institute for Corporate Wellness makes it all possible for $850 (compared with the usual cost of $1,000). The checkup includes cholesterol screening, cardiac stress test, massage therapy, relaxation and yoga. Call 407-352-4000.
Pub Date: 03/21/99