Jefferson City to host 2019 Salute to Veterans Airshow

The 2019 Salute to Veterans Airshow will be held at the Jefferson City Memorial Airport after leaders at the Public Works and Planning Committee came to an agreement Thursday morning.

The Columbia Regional Airport has hosted the airshow for the past 30 years during Memorial Day weekend, but because of construction at the airport, the show was forced to move.

“We had to move. We did not have a choice,” said Mary Posner, chairman of the Salute to Veterans Corporation. “They took down the runway on which we’d be holding the airshow.”

Jefferson City officials said they are excited about the change of venue and welcome taking on the one-year agreement to host the show. However, it’s unclear if the change will become permanent. Posner said the committee makes plans for the show year-to-year and doesn’t plan multiple years in advance.

“We never know what we will be having at our airshow as far as the assets are concerned,” she said. “But I’m certainly looking forward to next year.”

And the new venue in Jefferson City could add some flair, according to officials.

“We will work with Mary on how we can add some of the Jefferson City flavor to it and to make it a little bit more unique,” said Diane Gillespie, executive director of the Jefferson City Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.