Ms. Lynda Meeks of Lakewood was honored as a 2007 inductee into the International Forest of Friendship in Atchison, Kansas during ceremonies in June. The Forest is a living, growing memorial to the world history of aviation and aerospace.

Meeks has made many contributions to aviation as a military aviator, commercial pilot and educator. She is currently a Citation 560 pilot at Flight Options, LLC, a fractional airline. She is the president of Very Important Pilots, LLC and the founder of Girls With Wings™, a movement to encourage young girls to develop an interest in aviation (www.girlswithwings.com). Meeks has also founded Generate LIFT, Inc., a non-profit organization created to encourage youth to achieve their personal and academic aspirations by emphasizing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Education (www.generateLIFT.org).

The International Forest of Friendship was a gift to America on the Nation’s 200th birthday from the City of Atchison (Amelia Earhart’s birthplace) and the Ninety-Nines. The public is invited to the induction ceremonies which are held during the 3rd weekend of June (June 20-22, 2008). More information about the Forest, and points of contact are at www.ifof.org.