b'chapel, which is accented by meticulously detailedstained-glass windows depicting the history of flight. In Hangar 1, there is a museum containing artifactsfrom lighter than air vessels, ships, military equipment and uniforms. There is also a deeply moving tribute display for Vietnam Prisoners of War.The NLHS group functions as a non-profit organization run by dedicated volunteers and supported by members and private donations. The heritage of the Naval Air Station Lakehurst is home to Lighter-than-Air history, the first Navy helicopter squadron, ejection seat testing, aircraft carrier launch and recovery and is the site of the first international airport in the United States. President Carl Jablonski, who has been the caretaker of this history as NLHS President for the past 25 years says of the site, We have an amazing collection pertaining to the history of the joint base, history of naval aviation and the present and future missions of the joint base. Beyond markers, documents and amazing historical artifacts, NLHS also has two living history components that operate within the majesty of Hangar 1. The Aircraft Restoration group and the Film Crew Unit. The NLHS -ARG (Aircraft Restoration Group) restores scrap aircraft with military precision and great pride, restoring discarded or decommissioned equipment and aircraft to Military standards. The group volunteers their time and experience to work on the planes and other equipment.Inside the enormous Hangar 1, NLHS ARG work throughall types of weather in the unheated and unairconditioned space to continue this ongoing labor of love. Peter Larkin and Jim Tornetta, NLHS member volunteers are fixtures in the hangar, and can be found working on planes every week.Larkin says Every time I walk into Hangar 1, Im amazed. You cant explain the size of this hangar to someone. Its impossible to understand the look and feel of the space until youre in here. Its awe inspiring.Tornetta adds, This hangar was a colossus of engineering in its time, Its been here for 100 years, and its still standing. Were here to preserve this awesome history.NLHS maintains an Air Park on the JBMDL Lakehurst, where these beautiful planes are displayed for military and civilian visitors to see up close. Two planes being worked on now are the F14 Black Tomcat and the F8 Crusader. This F8is one of only six left in the United States.Inside Hangar 1, there is a replica of the Hindenburg Airship gondola that had been made for the 1975 film the Hindenburg.Peter Larkin says The Hindenburg gondola is a good piece of history and people now get to see how things actually looked. People know about the crash, but they dont know about the airship itself. This helps them see what the details were, the technology, the phone system, and mechanisms. Its such an interesting part of our history.The NLHS organization is important in its perpetuation of Military and Lighter Than Air history, but perhaps equally continued on page 28Thank You For Your Service Military Appreciation Resource Magazine 27'