By Joe O’Halloran
Standing in front of a fleet of military planes, tanks and guns outside the American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport in Farmingdale on Monday, local politicians called on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to reconsider demolishing the hanger where the museum resides.
The request comes a year after the FAA proposed demolishing two hangars at the airport in order to modernize the runway and to meet Runway Safety Area criteria as part of its Airport Improvement Plan. Under the plan, the FAA is engaged in a nationwide program to remove hazard material from runways, which includes the 35,000-square-foot historic hangar, to create more room for planes to land in emergency situations.
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“The museum is something that should be cherished,” said Babylon Town Supervisor Steve Bellone, adding that he is proud to have the museum located in his township. “It’s a piece of Babylon heritage, but more importantly it’s a piece of Long Island heritage,” he said looking out over the veterans gathered in front of the hangar.
Bellone said immediate action needed to be taken to preserve the museum because it serves as an important piece of aviation history. “How can our children, or our grandchildren, learn the value of history if we do nothing to stop its destruction?” he said.
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) said the museum’s demolition would not only affect the course of history, but also have negative repercussions island-wide. Currently the museum serves as a major economic generator for the region, attracting nearly 40,000 visitors annually.
Ed Collins, a veteran who participated in the beach invasion at Normandy, was standing alongside his granddaughter and great-grandson as he recalled the memories that the museum held within its walls.
“This museum stands as a living, dynamic tribute not only to the men and women who served in my generation, but to all veterans who served in the military,” Collins said.
Irving Multz, who served in the Army during the Korean War as a combat photographer, said the museum holds a special story for all veterans and provides insight into history for younger generations.
“No matter what branch of the military you served in, this place can tell you stories from each, and through those stories we, as the older generations can contribute so much from what we did back then,” he said.
Currently, under its improvement plan, the FAA has allocated $3,000,000 to Republic Airport for renovations early last year in a verbal agreement. The agreement was never put into writing because the funds are strictly for demolition purposes and not for the relocation or reconstruction of the museum, which museum officials said is the best option to keep the historic landmark open.
“We will continue to push to stop the FAA from destroying history,” Schumer said. “We will not let you or those who fought with you down. We plan to fight this.”
Schumer said that the airport is looking for other locations for the museum, either north or south from where it is now in the airport, but no definite site has yet to be determined.
An FAA spokesperson could not be reached for comment.
