One of only four surviving members of the 1st American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force was honored Monday night with a concert performance by students of Lovinggood Middle School in Powder Springs, Ga., northwest of Atlanta.
Maj. Edward Stiles Sr. is the honoree, is the grandfather of Lovinggood’s assistant band director Michelle Koenig. Under her direction, the Silver Hawks Band performed a selection of songs dedicated to the World War II veteran, who flew for the famous but short-lived group best known as the Flying Tigers.
“It was real nice,” Stiles said after the show. “I just enjoyed every bit of it.” The 93-year-old was captivated, tapping his feet to “The Flying Tiger March” by John Edmondson, the song Koenig found last fall and decided to have her students play to honor her grandfather.
For the complete story by Megan Thornton of the Marietta (Ga.) Daily Journal, click here.
