April 4, 2023 (Tampa, FL.) – Tours of Duty, a nonprofit organization dedicated to harnessing the skills and expertise of veterans to search for and recover Prisoners of War (POWs) and Missing in Action (MIAs), is proud to announce a historic collaboration with the Tunison Foundation, and their warbird, Placid Lassie, for the 80th D-Day Commemoration.
This 1943 Douglas C-47 Skytrain serves as a flying museum and as a testament to the sacrifices made during World War II while she served in the original D-Day Fleet, Operation Neptune, Operation Market Garden, Operation Repulse, and Operation Varsity. That’s right, the same rivets that supported the delivery of the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division in assault gliders also provided vital contributions to the liberation of Holland. In December 1944, Placid Lassie launched a resupply for the 101st Airborne as they were surrounded at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. Finally, in Operation Varsity, Placid Lassie and the 74th TCS dropped paratroopers in the largest airborne operation to ever take place in a single day over a single location!
The upcoming 2024 Legacy Tour is particularly significant as it commemorates the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion, and Placid Lassie will once again fly over the same terrain 80 years later. This tour and partnership, along with other events, play a crucial role in the combined mission to keep history alive and to support the recovery of our POW/MIA service members, underscoring the commitment that no fallen American is ever forgotten.
Through the very successful efforts of the Tunison Foundation in preserving the memory of the Greatest Generation and Tours of Duty’s demonstrated success to return our POWs and MIAs, we view this partnership to be as American as the bullet holes in General Washington’s jacket.
“We are thrilled about this partnership with the Tunison Foundation!” said Amanda Rutledge, Founder and CEO of Tours of Duty. “It is an absolute honor to work with a
National Treasure like Placid Lassie, and the partnership with the Tunison Foundation in commemorating the 80th Anniversary of D-Day is an absolute dream.”.
May 13, 2024 (Tampa, FL.) – Tours of Duty, a nonprofit organization dedicated to harnessing the skills and expertise of veterans to search for and recover Prisoners of War (POWs) and Missing in Action (MIAs), is proud to announce a historic collaboration and effort with the Tobacco Barn Distillery and their founding partner, Rear Admiral (Ret.) Scott Sanders, for the 80th D-Day Commemoration.
For those that are tracking the journey of Tours of Duty, this partnership is one that cannot be overstated in the context of historicity and setting a world’s first in the situation of transporting Bourbon across the Atlantic and traversing the 2024 Legacy Tour transported by Placid Lassie, the 1943 Douglas C-47,from the Tunison Foundation. If you recall, Placid Lassie is the original warbird that is also partnering with Tours of Duty and is carrying the three barrels of bourbon apply named, Omaha, Utah, and Pointe du Hoc.
What is even more intriguing is the way in which the bourbon will be aged by voyaging across the globe! These barrels experience a symphony of weather patterns, elevations, and decibel variations from the plane’s rotors, all contributing to a unique maturation process. The rocking motion of the aircraft ensures that every drop soaks up the essence of the wood, infusing the bourbon with an extraordinary flavor profile. This innovative technique not only honors the spirit’s seafaring and military heritage, but also offers connoisseurs a taste of history with every sip.
The upcoming 2024 Legacy Tour is particularly significant as it commemorates the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion, and this bourbon provided by Tobacco Barn Distillery will fly over the same terrain as our war fighters 80 years later. This tour and partnership have a crucial role in the combined mission to keep history alive and to support the recovery of our POW/MIA service members, underscoring the commitment that no fallen American is ever forgotten.
Through this very generous donation, and partnership with Tobacco Farms Distillery and Rear Admiral Scott Sanders, Tours of Duty echoes the gratefulness exhibited from Prime Minister Churchill, as he expressed his thanks to the Royal Air Force for defending Britain against the German Luftwaffe.
“Never was so much owed by so many to so few.”
~Winston Churchill~
“As we embark on our mission to honor the courage and sacrifice of our veterans, I am profoundly grateful to The Tobacco Barn Distillery and Rear Admiral Scott Sanders for their generous partnership” said Amanda Rutledge Founder and CEO of Tours of Duty. “The bourbon donated not only fuels our journey but symbolizes the spirit of camaraderie and remembrance that defines our collective mission. With excitement and reverence, we mark this historic endeavor, commemorating the 80th D-Day anniversary as we continue the search for our MIAs. Together, we carry forward their legacy, ensuring they are never forgotten.”.
Applications for partnerships, sponsorships, and volunteer opportunities are currently available. Interested parties should visit www.toursofduty.org or contact Paul Slough, Director of Outreach, at (940)-600-2275 or email p.slough@toursofduty.org for more information.
About the Tobacco Barn Distillery:
We are a true ground-to-glass distillery. We grow all of the corn used in our Bourbon and Whiskies right here on the farm. Grains we don’t grow ourselves are sourced from other local farmers and suppliers. Even the ingredients we use in our Rums are sourced from right here in Maryland. Our farm and distillery use a combination of solar, geothermal, and heat recovery systems as part of our commitment to protect Southern Maryland’s environment:
Electricity generated by our farm’s solar panels offsets much of the power our distillery consumes. We designed, built, and installed a recycling geothermal cooling system combined with an integrated heat recovery system. Together, we reduce our process heat requirements by 20 percent and reuse 100 percent of our cooling water. After the corn, rye, and wheat are used in the distilling process, they are donated to other local farmers to be used as a feed source for their livestock.
We are Tobacco Barn Distillery. We are creating something that has been missing for a long time in Southern Maryland. We’d love to share a drink with you: our families, our friends, and our neighbors.