Air Force Museum Foundation announces sponsors for of Doolittle Tokyo Raiders' Final Toast Published Nov. 5, 2013 By Mona Vollmer Air Force Museum Foundation DAYTON, Ohio -- The Air Force Museum Foundation announces sponsors of the events surrounding the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders' final toast to their fallen comrades to be held at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Nov. 8 and 9, 2013. The lead sponsor is Hennessy, the #1-selling Cognac in the world. In 1956, Hennessy presented Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle with a vintage 1896 bottle of Hennessy Cognac, honoring the year of his birth. Three years later, at a reunion in Tucson, Ariz., a tradition of honoring the Raiders' legacy was formed when its members were presented with 80 silver goblets by the City of Tucson. This year, representatives from Hennessy will visit the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force to personally thank and honor the surviving Raiders at the final toast celebration. "The bravery and selflessness demonstrated by the Doolittle Raiders continues to humble and inspire people across generations," said Rodney Williams, Senior Vice President, Hennessy. "We are deeply moved that the Hennessy brand will have the honor to raise our glasses to their heroism one final time." Other companies and organizations sponsoring the event include The Air Force Association, Airbus, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Stowers Machinery Corporation, Huntington Bank, Riverside Research, Veterans Airlift Command, Cox Media Group Ohio, and Greene County Convention and Visitors Bureau. A number of individuals have also stepped forward to lend their support; they are Richard H. Robb and Rebecca E. Crown, Mr. Pat McGohan, The Chuck Balaj Family, Thomas and Anne Burns, Kathy and Scott Seymour, Mr. Charles J. Faruki, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Dick and Joani Reynolds, Robert and Erma Scott, and Gary and Debbie Stephenson. "It takes significant resources to host a world class event such as the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders' final toast, and we're very grateful to our generous sponsors that made it possible," said Larry "Scoop" Cooper, Executive Director of the Air Force Museum Foundation. "The Doolittle Tokyo Raiders are true heroes and role models for future generations to aspire to." In addition to the invitation-only final toast ceremony, which will be broadcast live for the public (see www.nationalmuseum.af.mil for more information), public activities include the Raiders' grand arrival, a wreath-laying ceremony and a flyover of B-25 aircraft. The Air Force Museum Theatre will show Doolittle Raider and World War II-themed movies, and author Stan Cohen will sign his book "Destination Tokyo" in the museum store (see www.airforcemuseum.com for schedules). The Air Force Museum Foundation, Inc. was established in 1960 as a philanthropic, non-profit organization to assist the Air Force in the development and expansion of the facilities of the National Museum of the United States Air Force and to undertake and advance programs and activities supporting the Museum. For more information on the Air Force Museum Foundation, visit www.airforcemuseum.com. NOTE TO PUBLIC: For information on the Doolittle Raiders' final toast, please visit the museum's website at www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/doolittle.asp. NOTE TO MEDIA: For more information on sponsors, please contact Mona Vollmer at the Air Force Museum Foundation at (937) 656-9258. For information on the Doolittle Raiders' events, contact Rob Bardua at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Public Affairs office at 937-255-1386. For Hennessy specific inquiries, contact Mo Dieye mohammed.dieye@cohnwolfe.com.