FORT BENNING, Ga. – Fort Benning, birthplace of America’s

FORT BENNING, Ga. – Fort Benning, birthplace of America’s Airborne, hosts an annual gathering of former paratroopers April 4 through 6, with events that included a parachute jump from a World War II transport plane, a wreath-laying, and a chance to see the nation’s newest paratroopers graduate jump school. About 60 Airborne veterans and family members came to Fort Benning for the annual Airborne Awards Festival, which was sponsored by the Atlanta All-Airborne Association, formerly known as the Donald D. Lassen Chapter, 82nd Airborne Division Association. The Festival was held in close coordination with Fort Benning’s 1st Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, which operates the U.S. Army Airborne School. (U.S. Army photo by Patrick Albright, Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning Public Affairs)