Hot Air Affair features POW-MIA balloon

A POW-MIA balloon will be featured at the Hot Air Affair Feb. 5-7. Photo submitted

A POW-MIA balloon will again be featured in the 10th annual Hudson Hot Air Affair set for Feb. 5-7. Luke Cesnik of St. Cloud, Minn., will pilot the newly designed balloon.

Its appearance is sponsored by James Lawrence Co., a Hudson firm owned by hot air balloon pilot Jim Wiersgalla. The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 331 of the St. Croix Valley will also support the balloon's participation.

Cesnik, an Air Force veteran, says the balloon was built partly to keep the POW-MIA issue alive. He said his non-profit organization, Freedom Flight Inc., also uses the balloon flights to publicize the plight of missing children and not just those missing due to military action.

The 105,000-cubic-foot new balloon, in use since last July, has already been flown in more than five states and is crewed by Cesnik's family and local volunteers. Cesnik, one of five pilots who fly the three POW-MIA balloons owned by Freedom Flight, will participate in the Hot Air Affair Moon Glow Saturday evening, Feb. 6, as well as the daytime competition flights Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 6 and 7.

The Hot Air Affair is sponsored by Hudson Hot Air Affair Inc., a non-profit volunteer organization, and Bernick's Pepsi Cola.

For details on Hot Air Affair events, pick up the new event brochure at the Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau office or at Hudson businesses.