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Saints Alive . . .
Now that Pope Gregory and the retired
Pope Benedict have declared Pope John Paul II a Saint, we recall a day
to remember in October 1979.
We were at home just like millions of Americans
and people all over the world as Pope John Paul II arrived at LaGuardia
Airport aboard a TWA Boeing 727. He walked down a red carpet (later the
carpet was cut up and became a much desired souvenir) to be greeted by
LGA Airport General Manager Tim Pierce.
What happened at that greeting was totally
unexpected, as Mr. Pierce handed The Pontiff a copy of the book Air
Cargo News Publisher Geoffrey Arend created for dual purposes: to
recall the 40th anniversary of LaGuardia Airport (opened in October 1939),
and to tell the story of the historic, then-endangered Marine Air Terminal,
which we were attempting to save from the wreckers ball.
Just at the point of the presentation, with
His Holiness looking at the book, a photographer took this immortal picture.
What amazed us then and still today is that
the name Geoffrey Arend can be clearly seen on the spine of the book.
Later we laughingly joked:
“Now we know of two books that The
Holy Father has read for sure.” The limo that carried the Pope to
his next stop also transported our book on the seat next to him.
Reportedly, Pope John Paul had our volume
close at hand all day, and after his historic visit the volume landed
inside the Vatican Library in Rome, where it still resides today.
A big deal?
You betcha, and one that still lives on
for us every time we think of Pope John Paul, “The People’s
Pope.”
That visit brought good luck to everyone
who cherishes aviation history, as our efforts indeed saved The Marine
Air Terminal, the first international airport facility in New York City
(1945-48).
Some years later in Washington, D.C., Geoffrey
and Tim were honored with the highest award of the U.S. FAA and National
Historic Trust for “Outstanding Contributions to Aviation and Historic
Preservation” for their efforts to save the Marine Air Terminal.
The awards presentation lauded the Pope’s historic visit for bringing
worldwide attention to the MAT, which appeared as a backdrop.
Geoffrey/Flossie |
