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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Mr. Tim Hardman

MY FATHER, JOSEPH HARDMAN, HAS BEEN A LIFE-LONG STUDENT OF AVIATION. THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, HE HAS AMASSED A COLLECTION OF AVIATION BOOKS THAT WOULD RIVAL ANY LIBRARY. WHEN HE LIVED IN THE WASHINGTON DC AREA, HE WAS AND STILL IS A MEMBER OF THE SMITHSONIAN, ALWAYS VISITING THE AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM. IF AN AIR SHOW CAME TO THE AREA, WE WOULD VISIT SO HE COULD TALK WITH THE PILOTS AND SEE THE VINTAGE AIRCRAFT.

IN 1989, HE RETIRED DOWN IN KILL DEVIL HILLS, NC. HE PICKED THAT AREA NOT ONLY FOR THE CLIMATE, BUT BECAUSE IT WAS THE BIRTH PLACE OF FLIGHT. SINCE 1989, HE HAS VOLUNTEERED AT THE WRIGHT BROTHERS MEMORIAL NATIONAL PARK GIVING INTERPRETED TALKS AND TOURS TO THE VISITORS. VOLUNTEERING ONE DAY AWEEK, HE HAS AMASSED OVER 5000 VOLUNTEER HOURS WITH THE MEMORIAL. I HAVE HAD FRIENDS WHO SCHEDULE THEIR VISITS TO THE AREA SO THEY CAN HEAR HIM SPEAK. THEY SAY THEY LEARN SOMETHING NEW ABOUT THE WRIGHT BROTHERS OR AVIATION WITH EVERY VISIT.

DUE TO THIS LIFE-LONG LOVE OF AVIATION, I WOULD LIKE TO HONOR MY FATHER, JOSEPH M. HARDMAN, AS AN AIR AND SPACE FRIEND AND GET HIS NAME ON THE WALL OF HONOR.