Gen. Chuck Yeager—a true American hero—deserves his place among the 100 greatest in the National Garden of American Heroes.
For countless Americans who know him best as the Right Stuff, the legendary pilot who broke the sound barrier, it is our honor and privilege to present this petition on behalf of Brig. Gen. Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager, requesting the commission and inclusion of his statue as one of the initial 100 created for the National Garden of American Heroes.
Known by biographers and friends alike as “America’s hero” and the “Ace of Aces,” he was the first man alive to “poke a hole in the sky” (Philip Kaufman, director of The Right Stuff). On October 14, 1947, General Yeager flew the experimental aircraft, the Bell X-1, faster than the speed of sound and into our nation’s history. Among his many honors and accomplishments, he was a World War II ace, Air Force flight instructor, test pilot, and an inductee into the National Aviation Hall of Fame, as well as the recipient of a silver medal equivalent to a noncombatant Medal of Honor presented by President Gerald Ford on December 8, 1976.
He began his autobiography, Yeager, by stating that he never knew when he might be taking his last ride. Through his candor and daring, we can all gather our own measure of courage and hope that, like General Yeager, every worthwhile venture into the unknown moves us forward both as individuals and as a nation. He helped make America the greatest nation in the world, and we can all take pride in knowing his story.