As the visitor walks to the entrance of Silent Wings Museum, under their feet will be hundreds of engraved bricks memorializing the fallen Glider Pilots of WWII. The National World War II Glider Pilot Assocation (NWWIIGPA) chose this area to place  engraved bricks with the names, home citites and date of passing for each Glider Pilot killed in action. Those killed in the line of duty will also be honored with a brick placement as well. These bricks are clustered around concrete markers near the seal in the middle of the plaza. The seal is composed of terrazzo tile and is a replica of the NWWIIGPA insignia. Knowing the significance and history of the bricks leading to the Museum makes the walk through the plaza both omonous and humbling at the same time. 

 

The public was also invited to purchase and donate an engraved brick as part of a fund raising campaign. To my knowledge bricks may still be purchased for $100. The individual bricks are placed in separate areas from those placed in honor of the fallen Glider Pilots. I'm not certain if bricks are still available for purchase (See Inside Info - Plaza); however, you may view the Brick Order Form here.

On either side of the plaza are partial height walls that emulate the glider fusalage and are encapped with an emulated glider tail. Each glider had a unique identifiying number, as does the plaza glider. The numbers used for the plaza glider replica are significant in that they have a neat story behind them - ask a Museum attentant to give you the scoop!