NEWSLETTER #1 – May, 2026

A new website for the Eastern Family? Why not ? Remember the old EARA “KIT” (Keeping in Touch) newspaper once produced when EARA was still on the Retiree’s scene? We certainly can’t repeat that great source of news and membership information EARA put out each month, but we can certainly try to bring you important news as we receive it from you, the members of this website. Starting with this Newsletter, we’ll try to address several things going on in the Eastern Family. Let’s start by assigning item numbers to what you might want to know, hoping you will submit items you think the Members might want to hear. So let’s go……

#1 – The Retired Eastern Pilots set up a student scholarship program with Auburn University several years ago when then President Captain Gene Casadaban made it his campaign to keep the Legacy of Eastern alive for future generations. He donated $25,000 to start the program. It has now reached a value of $185,000 for scholarships to those students from the aviation studies at Auburn – Professional Pilot Program, Aero-Space Engineering, and other related aviation programs. Two awards are given in the name of Eastern Airline Pilots Scholarships. The student must be at the top of their class as determined by the Auburn Aviation Department and a Junior at the time of the award. We receive an accounting of all awards and personal letters from the recipients. I, Neal Holland, am the only surviving pilot on the original Board of Directors. If any of the pilots reading this would like to be a “Member of the Board,” please let me know by contacting me at 904-293-3114 or email, enealholland@yahoo.com 

#2 – It’s always a pleasure talking about the Silverliners Group. (Barbara Bukata) Silverliners International, founded in 1954 by three “retired” EAL stewardesses and named by Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, celebrated 72 years in Las Vegas in April. What a fabulous time everyone had, with so many first timers attending. We enjoyed an opening luau by the pool, the famous Mr/Ms Silverliner contest and a closing banquet with lots of side events and shows of our choice. The first-time attendees got to experience what Silverliners is all about; a family of former and current flight attendants from over 100 airlines, sharing stories while serving their communities plus Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, Wings of Rescue and The Hugs Fund.

Silverliners is always expanding, with our newest chapter, the Lone Star Chapter (DFW) with nearly 40 members and growing. We are looking at opening chapters in the Austin area, STL, GEG (Spokane), ECP (Panama City, FL), and Palm Desert area. Please let us know if you know anyone in those areas who qualifies as a Silverliner, and be sure and look for Silverliners International on Facebook. My Regards, Barbara Bukata / Outreach Membership Chair silverlinersinternational.com  thesilverliners@myyahoo.com

#3 – Facebook and websites that represent the Eastern Family on Facebook and Websites… The Eastern Airlines Retiree Association was started in 2020 with just a few members. Since then, it has grown to over 7,400 Eastern Family and Friends. Of course there are other Eastern Facebook pages in addition to EARA. There’s the Eastern page, the Eastern Airlines All-Hands Reunion page, Eastern Flight 980 page, Eastern Airlines page, Eastern Airlines Philadelphia Alumni page, REPA Online Page and many more. Just go to Facebook and you’ll see several Eastern Airlines mentioned. They are all telling the world about Eastern. You’ll also like the websites created by Eastern retirees and people who love Eastern. EARA is still working on its own website. Parts of it which this Newsletter is included is viewable now. Just go to easternairlinesretireeassociation.com

Folks, just remember, you were part of the GREATEST airline to fly the skies.

#4 – The Airline Radio Show. (Emily Boyer) Wheels up! It's time for lift-off for another season of Airline Radio Show. That's right! We're back on May 9 at 1 p.m. EST. To celebrate the return of the show, we're offering a rare giveaway! The first 10 callers will receive a free digital copy of Images In Flight A North American Odyssey, an Eastern Airlines orchestral suite. Copies of this narrative symphony simply don't exist anywhere else in the commercial marketplace today. We're lucky ourselves that Capt. Neal was recently organizing his garage and rediscovered the 11-track collection. So, we want to share that with you, and we only ask that you call and say hello in return! Click here for a sneak peak at what exactly we're talking about here. We can't wait to see you back on the airwaves with Neal, Harry, and Emily on May 9. Remember,it's easy to join the show from our website.

#5 – A Memorial List (Neal)…. If you have an Eastern friend that you know who passed away and taken the final flight west, we would like you to send us the information or obituary so it can be added to our Memorial List on the EARA website. A picture would be helpful also. If the person was a close friend, please include your relationship and department you knew each other and your personal thoughts.

#6 – The EARA Online store….An EARA Online store has been created for the purpose of offering the sale of EAL clothing, ball caps and memorabilia. We hope you’ll support our efforts of bringing you more Eastern News and Events by shopping for items offered on the online “Store.”

#7 – Your thoughts – we want to hear from you via the “Blog” page on the website. Send us your thoughts, requests, and memories and we will insert them on the Blog page. Tell folks where you are, how you are, and what you are doing since Eastern. They want to know.

#8 – The Eastern Pilots Memorial plaques in the Atlanta Terminal (Taken from their website)
Though Eastern ceased operations in 1991, its spirit lives on. The Eastern Air Lines Pilots Memorial Foundation exists to honor those aviators and preserve this remarkable chapter of aviation history. Through the continued generosity of the Eastern Air Lines community, we’re able to: - Preserve the Eastern Air Lines Pilots Memorial display; Share the history and contributions of Eastern pilots through stories, photographs, and historical features; Foster an ongoing community for former employees, families, and aviation enthusiasts

We commemorate not only the aircraft that carried the airline forward, but the people who flew and supported them. Our archives, photographs, and artwork reflect an era when air travel symbolized adventure and innovation.

Together, we are more than a foundation — we are stewards of the Eastern family legacy.

#9 – Thoughts from your Editor: It was the second-best thing in my lifetime: Family and Eastern Airlines. I had not always wanted to fly airplanes but loved aviation since studying to be an aircraft mechanic back in the 50s. It took off when I studied and trained for my Certificates and Ratings beginning at Embry-Riddle School of Aviation in Miami. Captain O.B. Bivens hired me in February 1963 with Eastern. DCA was my first base assignment followed by ATL for the rest of my career until February, 1989. That year it was over for many at Eastern. But as the song says ….. “And the beat goes on” as many of us are still around to talk about the greatest airline ever.

#10 – Your story and memory goes here in our next EARA Newsletter.