Fly/In Cruise/In Reaches Record-Breaking Number of Meals Served

The 32nd annual Fly/In Cruise/In took place Saturday at the Marion, Indiana Municipal Airport, with a record-breaking number of guests served.

The all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast was served from 6:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. with proceeds going toward the Grant County Rescue Mission in Marion, Indiana. Three thousand five hundred ninety-six guests were served breakfast, surpassing the number of meals served in previous years.

iHop donated 250 gallons of premixed pancake batter for the event. Along with the pancakes, there were roughly 1,400 cartons of milk and 15,000 sausage links served.

The Fly In/Cruise/In Pancake Breakfast is one of four major fundraisers that help fund the GCRM. Although, there are other ways to get involved at the GCRM through volunteering or donating to their thrift ministry.

Brad Terhune serves as executive director of the ministry.

“We get to serve breakfast and serve people well to show them what we get to do all the time, which is serve food to people who are in need,” Terhune said.

Along with the Pancake Breakfast, the event featured a display of antique cars and aircraft from several different states. Historic vehicles such as two restored U.S. Army UH-1H “Huey” helicopters were displayed.

There were more than 300 vintage cars and trucks, 175 airplanes, 20 vintage tractors and 11 pulse auto-cycles on display at the event.

Ralph and Faye Shipley brought two vehicles that were showcased at the event. Ralph Shipley said that one of the vehicles was a 1947 Mack Rat Rod that was featured in an issue of Rat Rod Magazine in 2012.

The couple also said they enjoy attending local car shows.

“It’s a lot of fun to hang out… run into people you haven’t seen in a long time and catch up,” Faye Shirley said.

Ray Johnson serves as coordinator of the Fly/In Cruise/In. Johnson said his fascination with aircraft was sparked at the age of five when he recalled watching his uncle land a plane in his family’s wheat field. Beyond his admiration for planes, Johnson said the Fly/In Cruise/In is about uniting the community.

“It’s about the community, volunteerism and bringing people together… we live in a wonderful community here in Marion and Grant County and you can see they’re all out here supporting the Grant County Rescue Mission. How can it get any better?” Johnson said.

More information about the event and the history of the Fly/In Cruise/In can be found at www.flyincruisein.com