Family donates collection of WWII model planes to Lafayette VA Clinic

MODEL PLANE DISPLAY DONATED TO LAFAYETTE VA OUTPATIENT CLINC Lafayette, LA - On Monday, December 23, 2019, the George T. Mayer family will donate his World War II model plane collection to the Lafayette VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic for the enjoyment of the Veterans and citizens of Acadiana. A short ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. in the clinic lobby followed by light refreshments. George T. Mayer, Navy veteran, was born in 1930 and grew up in the English Channel section of New Orleans. In his teens and early twenties, he learned to play the piano and had his own band. He enlisted in the Navy and served on the Destroyer USS Gainard (DD706) earning the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class. He was a draftsman by trade, but a true artist with everything he did with his hands. He was instrumental in making floats for the annual Boy Scout parades and built booths and the carnival games for the annual St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School fund raiser. In 1976, Mr. Mayer and his family moved to Lafayette. He built many unique furniture pieces for family and friends, but model planes and woodworking were his passion. The 66 World War II model planes, many of which are over 50 years old, have extensive attention to detail--from ordering special paint from Germany to making sure each gun was placed exactly where it belonged. Mr. Mayer passed away on March 12, 2019 and it was his wish that all Veterans would be able to see and appreciate the planes. For further information, please contact Tammie Arnold, Public Affairs Officer, at (318) 229-6074.