ATLANTA, GEORGIA — Crewmembers from Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment of the Georgia Army National Guard took the opportunity to meet with young students and talk about flying the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter during a recent refueling stop at Peachtree-Dekalb Airport (PDK).

Students from Mrs. Ronda McNair’s class at Miller Road Early Childhood Center in Lithonia were visiting the airport as part of their summer program to learn about flying, airports and airplanes.

"I wanted to show these small children that flying is something they should be unafraid of," said McNair, a former police officer for the City of Atlanta.

While showing the students around PDK, she noticed a number of Soldiers in the terminal area and quickly recognized a voice from her past. It was Col. John King, 48th Brigade Deputy Commander and also Chief of Police for the City of Doraville. Col. King was a passenger on a Georgia Army National Guard Blackhawk helicopter stopped at the airport. Col. King was returning from a meeting with Soldiers of the 1-108th RSTA, 48th Infantry Brigade, who were conducting their annual two-weeks of training at Tullahoma, Tennessee.

"I’ve known John for years from my previous career as a police officer," said McNair. She asked him if the Blackhawk crew could talk with her students about flying and they enthusiastically obliged.

The questions from the students were typical for children that ranged from 7 to 12 years of age.

"How fast does it go?" "How does it stay in the air?" "What is it like to fly?"

The flight crew eagerly answered each question in such a way that the young people could understand.

All eyes were focused on the aviators as they answered each of the questions and talked about their experiences in flying the UH-60.

SGT William McCullough, crew chief, described how he maintains the aircraft, while 1LT Ernest Polk, pilot in command and CW2 Gerald Key, second in command, talked about how and why they learned to fly and career as military flyers. They also described some of their experiences while they were supporting the rescue and cleanup efforts in New Orleans after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

This chance meeting became a great way for these Guardsmen to share with these local youngsters their love for flying and to possibly inspire them to look at aviation as a career.

"It was an unexpected pleasure to let these students meet Soldiers," said King. "This is a great way to meet with young people and tell them what we do?"

"This is a great part of what we do" said McCullough. "Getting to talk to young people about flying and the Guard is always something we all like to do."

As Col King and the crew of the National Guard Black Hawk lifted off to continue its journey to Fort Stewart, the excited children eagerly waved goodbye.

"These are wonderful opportunities to share our love for our professions to the next generations," continued King.