Statement by Representative Juanita Millender-McDonald Recognizing Mr. Jonathan Strickland

Statement by Representative Juanita Millender-McDonald Recognizing Mr. Jonathan Strickland
July 27, 2006
CONGRESSWOMAN JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD
OF CALIFORNIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Thursday, July 27, 2006

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an intelligent, gifted and courageous young man. Jonathan Strickland is a fourteen-year-old African American California resident who began his training to fly airplanes and helicopters at the age of ten at Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum. The Museum, located in my District at the Compton Woodley Airport in Compton, California, is a non-profit organization that strives to give adolescents the opportunity to reach their goal of flight. All program participants are able to receive free training, as long as they perform local community service. The Museum director and accomplished flight instructor, Robin Petgrave, saw fit to create a program that would serve youth in poverty stricken neighborhoods and also provide them with a positive alternative away from the streets.

Jonathan Strickland has clearly benefited from Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum. I am proud to recognize his incredible achievement; he broke four world records in June, including being the youngest person to solo both a plane and a helicopter on the same day, being the youngest African American to solo a helicopter, to fly a helicopter internationally, and to fly a helicopter roundtrip internationally.

On July 1, 2006 Mr. Strickland successfully landed back at Compton /Woodley Airport and was greeted by family, friends, well-wishers, the media, Compton City Mayor Perrodin, and original members of the Tuskegee Airmen. Also he was presented with an application for future employment with the Los Angeles County Fire Department Air Operations Division.

Ambitious and brave, Jonathan Strickland was able to live his dream because of Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum. I am ecstatic that this wonderful program is in my Congressional District and that it is changing young people’s lives, and creating ways for them to reach their potential and excel. Mr. Strickland’s future goals include becoming a test pilot, attending the Air Force Academy, and eventually becoming a commercial pilot. And as an already accomplished record-breaker, I am confident that he will surpass every goal he sets for himself.

Mr. Strickland recently graduated from St. Francis Cabrini School and will enter Cleveland High School as a freshman in September 2006. I am anxious to see what records he will set and break as a high school student. I join with his family, friends, his community and supporters, who are rightfully very proud of his accomplishments, in recognizing Mr. Jonathan Strickland for his outstanding achievements