Inspiration takes flight in St. John
Published 12:04 am Wednesday, May 17, 2017
- Grandmother Rev. Mother Lorraine Vigne is all smiles May 6 as DaJon Butler, 6, from left; Braelan Hill, 4; Anthony Young, 10; and Tyler Young, 8, get ready to fly in Reserve.
RESERVE — Paul Green has a new long-range goal — that’s to create a flight school in St. John the Baptist Parish.
It doesn’t seem so farfetched considering the former Navy man and longtime aviation mechanic just pulled off 400 free plane trips for local residents this month.
“I know (pilot training) is something good because my son was struggling in high school with his academics,” Green said. “When he came from that two-week flight academy, his grade point average went up to 3.35. Just by giving him a vision and saying, ‘son, if you want to fly this airplane, you have to make the grade,’ everyone saw his attentiveness improve.”
Tristan Green, from left, stands with Paul Green and Brandon Dillon, while Ellian Green stands in front.
Married to Theresa and father to Tralacia, Tristan and Ellian, Green’s story starts way before May 6’s inaugural St. John the Baptist Parish Aviation Awareness Day.
The 1986 East St. John High graduate joined the U.S. Navy, focusing on naval aviation as a helicopter mechanic. He served during the Gulf War out of Italy as part of a combat support squadron and later served out of Jacksonville, Fla., in search and rescue and anti-submarine warfare.
He followed that up by completing his power plant license certification at Delgado Community College before starting work as a flight mechanic with Empire Airlines, flying back and forth from Dallas to New Orleans. That led to his employment with FedEx, beginning by working on aircraft out of Los Angeles.
Paul Green addresses the crowd at the inaugural St. John the Baptist Parish Aviation Awareness Day.
He transferred back to New Orleans in 1997, enjoying more than 20 years with FedEx in the process.
His oldest daughter was born in 1997, followed by births in 2001 and 2006. Deeply rooted in St. John Parish, Green takes pride in his LaPlace address, consistent voting record and auxiliary service work with the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Jersey Rebaldo, 8; Lillianna Davila, 9; and Serenity Marks, 12, in back, came from Reserve for the fun.
“When I came back home, I said I have to give back to my community,” Green said. “I have a ton of knowledge, a ton of experience and what good is it to have all of this and not share it.”
Green said he would often take his children with him to work, exposing them to airplanes and pilots. That morphed into their own desire to fly, leading Green to the conclusion that aviation is a way to positively reach children.
Years of talk and months of planning came together May 6 at the inaugural St. John the Baptist Parish Aviation Awareness Day in Reserve, where almost 300 children and more than 400 individuals were treated to free flights around St. John Parish.
While attendees waited, an army of volunteers and support staff served free pizza, jambalaya, snowballs and more. Port of South Louisiana Executive Regional Airport Director Vincent Caire said the turnout was fantastic for a first time event.
“The airport is an economic engine,” Caire said. “Airports dramatically increase accessibility. One of the things this event did, primarily, is educate the community on the airport being here. A lot of people didn’t even know we had an airport out here. Now, they know we have one.”
Sporting a 5,150-feet long runway, the Reserve airport can accommodate medium- to large-sized corporate jets holding up to 12 passengers.
It’s a unique aspect of St. John not often talked about.
Green said plans are already underway for the 2018 aviation day, most likely to take place in May.
Help from friend and pilot Cedric Grimes, as well as his pastor, helped make the event possible, Green said.
“We’re going to bring them aviation, and pastor is going to bring them the Biblical side of it,” Green said. “Between aviation and God, we can’t go wrong.”
The amazing weather on May 6 was another example of help from a higher calling, according to Green. Support from dozens of individuals and local businesses made it possible, as well.
Marathon Petroleum Company’s Aspen Murphy said the company was excited to support the event with a donation and logistical tent setup because it encouraged children to pursue careers in S.T.E.M. programs by flying airplanes.
“All of the children who participated loved the event, and we are proud that we were able to help sponsor such a fun day,” Murphy said.
Green said he was especially touched by a personal donation from Fedex Airbus Captain and coworker Gordon Bryan, who along with wife Debie contributed $2,500 to the effort.
“I had tears in my eyes,” Green said. “Even after my cutoff date, I still had people trying to give me money but I couldn’t take their money because I had to do a banner with T-shirts. I told them I have them in my heart and thank them for supporting my idea.”
