Making their aerial wishes come true
By Melinda Harrell
Published in News on May 17, 2015 1:50 AM
Myasia Stokes, 9, was having the time of her life.
She was all smiles at Friday's Wings Over Wayne Air Show practice.
When the Thunderbirds arrived to sign autographs, Myasia skipped between pilots -- presenting each with a pen and a booklet for a signature.
Local celebrity Miss Goldsboro Victoria Baskett met with the children and signed photos, too.
"My day was awesome," she said. "We did all these things."
She took photos with the pilots, climbed into a plane and received a behind-the-scenes tour of the squadron.
"It's been great," Myasia said.
Her favorite part was Thunderbird No. 5 flying upside down at 500 mph.
"Everything is really loud," she said.
She led her younger brother, Ronnie Stokes III, around with her.
"He is only 4, but he is having fun," Myasia said, as she pulled him to the next pilot.
She was one of seven local Make-A-Wish children invited to the Wings Over Wayne Air Show practice on Friday.
The families participating in Make-A-Wish sat in the VIP, tented seating next to the flight line.
Four of the children were from Goldsboro and two had parents serving at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.
Jaxson Marshall's stepfather, Charles Hayley, is active duty at Seymour Johnson so he is quite familiar with planes.
Jaxson, 5, smiled shyly at the Thunderbird pilots who came to visit him.
His favorite part of the day was watching the planes fly on their sides.
Kristen Johnson, president and CEO of Eastern North Carolina Make-A-Wish, was also enjoying her day.
"My favorite part is the hugs," she said, laughing as 5-year-old Jackson Parkhurst threw his arms around her neck.
"Karate hug!" he yelled.
His mother, Stephanie, said Jackson was having the best day of his life.
He pretended to fly while sitting in a cockpit and took photos with the Thunderbirds.
Jackson received his wish to meet the Transformers at Universal Studios earlier this month.
But Friday, he was just as happy meeting everyday heroes.
He high-fived the pilots who came to meet him.
"The Air Force has always been so generous with us," Ms. Johnson said. "We're so excited to have our wish families out here ... the kids just get to enjoy themselves."