- KING'S WISH - WWI & WWII MILITARY EXPERIENCE -
How unique is it for a 14 year-old boy to be a WWI & WWII history buff and his one wish is to experience all he can about it? King’s wish was granted at the 3rd Annual Evening of Thanks Gala at The Bourne Mansion in November of 2024!
Before King headed out to California for his wish to visit the Battleship USS Iowa Museum this past June, Long Island’s very own Museums stepped up and gave King some EXTRA special experiences!
June 2025 began with King visiting the American Airpower Museum of Farmingdale, NY, where he was able to experience a personal ride in the official parade float tank “Kalamity Jane”, a VIP flight experience in the official WWII WACO Biplane and tour of the Museum with his family.
That same weekend, he visited The Museum of American Armor of Old Bethpage, NY, as their honored guest to be immersed in “The Armor Experience” (featured in the video below).
The month ended with King being the VIP Guest of the largest WWII reenactment event in the USA, the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum’s WWII Weekend, in Reading, PA! Here, he was a VIP guest able to view the airshow, have complimentary war vehicle rides and be a “highlighted hero” in an official WWII Army Jeep within the event’s parade.
The Foundation extends our extreme gratitude to the following for their service and generosity:
– Captain Tracy Wood and the Cadets of the 9th Suffolk Cadet Squadron Civil Air Patrol of Westhampton Beach, NY.
– George Morrish of the “Kalamity Jane” tank and The Museum of American Armor.
– David Wigley and The American Airpower Museum.
– Major Sue Neal, co-founder of The Mid-Atlantic Air Museum’s WWII Reenactment Weekend.
– King’s Thank You Note –
Dear Marty Lyons Foundation,
I’m writing this letter to thank you for the amazing trip to Los Angeles, California. I’m also really glad you were able to get us a room on the Queen Mary ship. I enjoyed staying on the ship the whole time we were there. The best part was the haunted tour we did. It was both spooky and fun!
We visited the USS Iowa, which was exciting. I loved learning about the ship and walking through it. The highlight for me was seeing President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s room. I even picked up some souvenirs, including a piece of the ship’s original wooden deck.
We also went to Universal Studios Hollywood, which my brothers and I really enjoyed. We went fishing and caught sculpin, Pacific whitefish, and redfish, which we brought home to cook!
I’m also thankful that I got to be part of the tank parade at the Reading, Pennsylvania, Air Show. All of these events that were planned, I looked forward to, and they gave me the most exciting start to a summer I’ve ever had. I’ve never experienced anything so fun and historical all at once, it truly made me happy.
Once again, thank you to the Marty Lyons Foundation for giving me such an unforgettable and exciting experience!
Sincerely,
King-Solomon Allsop
KING'S PHOTO GALLERY
KING'S WISH VIDEO
DID YOU KNOW WE ARE TOP RATED?
