HUTTO — Thursday afternoon Hutto students assembled on their school grounds holding flags and banners as vintage WWII-era planes circled over all eight Hutto schools in what may be the only Veterans Day airshow of its kind. Now in its 19th year, the event is spear-headed by Hutto High School dyslexia counselor Paul Lister. Lister, a crew member on a B-25 Mitchell gunship named Devil Dog, coordinates all in-air activities for the airshow while Chief Master Sergeant Anna Collins coordinates ground activities such as assemblies, music and speakers.
Past speakers have included a 5-star Navy general and survivors of Iwo Jima. Because it is for students, the pilots and crews waive their fees for the event and the Hutto Education Foundation pays for a portion of the fuel.
Thursday’s flyover featured 15 aircraft including WWII bombers, fighters and transports plus a historic C-47 Skytrain. There were also two wounded veterans on the flight. “Every year I contact the Wounded Warrior project and they’ll send out a few vets who gave more than most in the service of our country. It means a lot to look down and see the children of Hutto waving flags and holding signs that say we love our vets,” Lister said. “We do this to bring history alive for the students of Hutto and make it a little bit more of a real experience.”
