VERO BEACH — All eyes will be looking up in October as world-class aerial performers take to the skies at the two-day Vero Beach Air Show.
The aeronautical extravaganza takes place the weekend of Oct. 5 and 6 at the Vero Beach Municipal Airport.
Todd Howder fondly recalls attending several air shows in the early 1990s which had been put on by the Vero Beach Exchange Club. An aviation enthusiast, he made it his mission to resurrect the event.
“There’s a small group of us born and raised here who thought the air shows were great platforms for fund raising as patriotic family events. We thought the community was ready to bring the show back,” says Howder.
Recognizing the tremendous effort involved, he enlisted the wholehearted support of three local Exchange Club chapters – Vero Beach, Treasure Coast and Indian River – and formed the nonprofit Vero Beach Air Show, Inc.
“There’s a lot of work involved; especially at this caliber. It was too extensive for just one Exchange Club,” says Howder. “Those were a smaller scale event, but there’s still a lot of work. There’s a lot of facets to put it together.”
After receiving the backing of Vero Beach Airport Director Eric Menger, a Treasure Coast Exchange Club member, and assistant airport director Todd Scher, the concept began to soar.
“Without Eric and Todd, without their help, we would not be here today talking to you. They have been instrumental in putting this together. Not too long after that we ran into Col. Marty Zickert,” says Howder.
Zickert is president of the Veterans Council of Indian River County, which became the fourth group to sign on.
“We thought it would be a patriotic way to honor our veterans and to provide our veterans with a little assistance because they need it so much.”
As a charitable fundraiser, it will also benefit various children’s nonprofits.
Howder sees the airshow as the ideal platform to promote Exchange Club core values – Family, Community and Country.
The job of air show director is in the very capable hands of Justina Anuszewski, owner of Justy Air Shows, Inc.
“She is also volunteering,” says Howder. “She is our connection to the performers. She comes from 15 years of being in the industry, working with air show organizing companies. She has the passion and wanted to be a part of this as well.”
Plans for the October show were well underway last summer when Anuszewski received a call from the United States Navy Blue Angels saying that they wanted to support the show and had an open date in May 2014.
“That is major; these guys are in a class of their own,” says Howder, his eyes lighting up with excitement.
“They thought for maybe that long,” laughs Scher, snapping his fingers, “and said yes!”
