First responders from as far away as Rosedale and a contingent from the U.S. Air Force were on hand for last Saturday’s Touch-A-Truck event at the city lake and Purcell Municipal Airport-Steven E. Shephard Field.

Of course, all of Purcell’s first responders were there too.

There was a good turnout from the general public for the first-time event before rain began to fall around 10:40 a.m.

Weather prevented aircraft that were scheduled to be on hand at the airport from being available.

However, Scott and Paula McCracken were in their hangar at the airport to show off their 1954 vintage plane that his father built.

Paula said it is a great plane for a beginning pilot to learn to fly with.

They showed the plane to Owen Page and Thomas Montgomery who were allowed to sit in the cockpit, getting the cook’s tour of the plane.

The members of the Air Force that were present had ditty bags and all sorts of swag to hand out, which was very pleasing to youngsters as they passed through.

There were also free hotdogs, sodas and water for the taking.

All-in-all it was a good event until the rain hit, which dampened the outing.

I had to laugh to myself as I heard Scott explaining the facts about the airplane to the youngsters.

“This plane is really old,” Scott said. “It was built by my dad back in 1954 so it’s really old.

“It’s 70 years old,” he said.

He was exactly correct about it being old.

I’m a 1954 model and I am 70 and I am old.

Scott was spot on.

Tons of kids enjoyed sitting in fire trucks, police units, ambulances and the like.

It was a good idea to hold such an event.