DEDICATION — The Mingo Business Association, in conjunction with Indian Creek Local School District and Softite Community Federal Credit Union, will unveil a new kiosk on May 7 at Indian Creek Middle School to commemorate the heroic acts of Air Force Capt. David L. “Nick” Hauck, a village native who sacrificed himself to save thousands of spectators while performing a stunt at a Thunderbirds airshow in 1981. Hauck has been recognized with a stretch of state Route 7 dedicated in his honor, but the kiosk will share his story with walkers along the path near Hills Elementary and Indian Creek Middle Schools.

MINGO JUNCTION — A decorated U.S. Air Force pilot is being commemorated again in his hometown, and Indian Creek Schools will take part in the festivities.

The Mingo Business Association, in conjunction with the Indian Creek Local School District and Softite Community Federal Credit Union, will unveil the Capt. David L. “Nick” Hauck Memorial Kiosk along a walking path on the grounds of Indian Creek Middle and Hills Elementary Schools. Activities will take place in the middle school gym at 6 p.m. on May 7, and the public is invited to attend.

Business association spokesman Jim Freiling is organizing the event and said it was another way to remember a local hero who made the ultimate sacrifice to save lives at a Utah airshow in 1981.

Hauck was performing with the Air Force’s Thunderbirds during the Hills Air Force Base’s 40th birthday celebration when his T-38 Talon malfunctioned while attempting a stunt. Rather than ejecting from the rapidly descending aircraft, he made the brave decision to remain inside the cockpit and crashed the plane in a field away from 80,000 spectators. Since then, his hometown has remembered him by designating a stretch of state Route 7 as the Capt. Nick Hauck Memorial Highway, but now walkers can learn more about their local hero while trekking on the footpath.

The dedication will take place in the ICMS gym and feature the elementary and middle school choirs, the eighth-grade band and school Superintendent T.C. Chappelear as the keynote speaker.

Freiling added murals will be presented to the high school, middle school and Hills, as well as sponsors Dr. William and JoAnn Johns, Schuetz Funeral Home and attorney Gary Hallock, who was Hauck’s high school friend, and the Village of Mingo Junction and Softtite, among others. The murals were created by Campbell Signs and placed on canvas.

“We wanted to make sure Capt. Hauck’s heroic sacrifice would not be forgotten. This way we will preserve his story,” Freiling continued. “It’s been on my bucket list for 10 years, and this is the right time to recognize Capt. Hauck so his legacy lives on. One of our goals is that these children can tell their friends and family who he is, and when people drive through Mingo and see the Capt. Hauck Memorial Highway, they’ll know his story and that he did something special.”

Freiling noted that having the school children involved in the venue allows them to remember the significance of Hauck and the day they participated in the event. As part of the dedication, fourth-graders at Hills researched and wrote essays about the captain, and several will be recognized that evening.

Food will be available, while school clubs will be involved, and a free movie night will be held for families.

ICMS Principal Holly Minch-Hick said other events range from a Tech Gyrls S.T.E.M. demonstration to a high-tech lesson in the computer lab.

Michele Minto, principal at Hills Elementary, noted that her pupils were intrigued by Hauck’s story.