A great big thank you to Watersports and Skier's Choice not only for throwing us this lavish party, but also for the donation to the Friends of Lake Louisa. The donation will be added to the current fund drive to replace the monument for Lt. Dean Gilmore that was damaged on our beach during a hurricane.

Lt. Gilmore flew 91 combat missions during WWII and was honored with the Distinquished Flying Cross. On November 14th, 1944 he was leading a sqaudron of P51 Mustangs on a training mission over Lake Louisa. Witness accounts say he was traveling an estimated 200 mph while skimming low over the lake when a part of his plane caught the water and his plane tumbled and exploded and Lt. Dean was killed instantly. It was his 23rd birthday.

Most of the wreckage remained underwater and forgotten until a drought in 2001 revealed what was left of his plane. A monument dedicated to Lt. Gilmore was placed on Lake Louisa beach shortly thereafter were it remained until a hurricane blew it over, breaking it in 3 places.

It will hopefully be replaced soon, and thank you to Watersports of Central Florida and Skier's Choice for helping to make that happen.

To read Lt. Gilmore's story for your self, go here:


http://www.swissmustangs.ch/72468.ht...ession*id*val*


Brian