Deptford council members pose with the preschool winners of the Come Fly With Us contest at the recreation center on Jan. 8.
The winning artwork in the Come Fly With Us contest on display at the recreation center.
The township hosted its annual Come Fly With Us ceremony on Jan. 8 at the recreation center to recognize the student winners of a related contest with the same name.
The session also spotlighted a major historical event with Deptford that figured into the contest: The landing of America’s first manned flight on Jan. 9, 1793, when French inventor Jean-Pierre Blanchard took off in a hot-air ballon from the former Walnut Street Prison in Philadelphia. A plaque in the city marks where the structure once stood.
“Our first president was there, George Washington,” said Mayor Paul Medany. “He was there and he gave a letter to Jean-Pierre Blanchard that was like a passport, because back then, not everyone spoke English. Blanchard didn’t speak English.”
History showed that thousands were in attendance for the balloon flight, including future presidents John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe.
Blanchard traveled 15 miles and spent 46 minutes in the air, crossing the Delaware River to enter New Jersey and conducting experiments on the way. He eventually landed in an open clearing with a clement oak tree in what is now Deptford; that tree remains at Deptford Landing Shopping Center on Clements Bridge Road.
Bewildered farmers approached Blanchard on landing and he presented them with Washington’s letter. Once it was read, the farmers and the flier celebrated the landing with a feast.
“The flight is about courage, bravery, determination, exploration, science and adventure,” Medany explained. “How more adventurous can you get when you take off in a balloon and you don’t even know where you’re landing?”
The contest involved students from preschool to fifth grade – who created art – and 10th and 11th graders, who wrote essays. A total of 126 students were honored and their work put on display at the rec center. Winners got certificates and gift cards from township council.
“We want to recognize everyone from the school district that is here,” Medany noted. “There are principals, teachers – there are folks that work at the schools. Thank you so much, because without your help, tonight wouldn’t happen, to organize all this and get the kids to do the posters and everything.”
Deptford’s First and Finest Balloon Crew was also on hand for the ceremony. Outside the center was a wicker basket with a lever, and inside flew a miniature version of Blanchard’s balloon.
