Acquisition at Front Royal-Warren County Airport a Point of Contact for Local Veterans

You would need directions to find it, and maybe that is the point. Three miles outside of Front Royal, the Front Royal-Warren County Airport is a lesser-known community treasure, nestled in a landscape that affords views of the mountains in proximity to the Shenandoah River. A place where many have been trained as pilots, at least as far back as the 1960s, the airport is a piece of connective tissue that serves as a bond for many in the region, facilitating fellowship in the context of one of the coolest things ever: flight.

(Above) Bob O’Roark (L) and Kristian Stroemsvik (R), who are both part of the team at the Front Royal-Warren County Airport, stand in front of an airplane that bears the artwork of Navy Seal Peter Carolan. (Below) A close-up of the iconic frog that is Carolan’s signature. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh.

This social hub is, in Kristian Stroemsvik’s mind, a potential resource for local veterans. Program Director of Upwind Aviation, which began operating out of the airport in January of 2024, Stroemsvik has a vision for expanding the social aspect of the airport. “Especially with veterans in general, it is important that they have an ability to go out and socialize,” he said, “especially if you are struggling with coming back from combat situations … so whenever you have an opportunity to go out and share experiences and talk about things that are related to that, I think that would be a great opportunity for them to come together and be able to share that.”

A view of the infrastructure at Front Royal-Warren County Airport.

A recent acquisition may serve as a catalyst for the kind of supportive fellowship Stroemsvik is envisioning. Something to come see, a plane bearing the artwork of Navy SEAL Peter Carolan, who was a phenomenal swimmer and contributed to the rescue of Apollo 13 from the ocean, is now part of the airport’s collection. This whimsical frog on the tail of the plane is iconic of Carolan, revealing superior artistic technique, a sense of humor, and maybe a touch of tenderness. Stroemsvik hopes that veterans will come to discover the artifact and thereby discover each other.

A wall of honors. Having flown solo for the first time after training, new pilots receive a plaque commemorating their achievement.

Woven into the history of the Shenandoah Valley and originally known as the Stokes Airport, this location grew out of the Stokes family farm shortly after WWII and was turned over to the county when the cost of running it became prohibitive. It has long been an excellent vehicle for achieving one’s private pilot’s license. Stroemsvik communicated his desire to preserve the local charm and the personal touch that make the Front Royal-Warren County Airport the treasure it truly is, while exploring ways that the service can be enhanced and improved, especially regarding its potential as a point of contact not only for veterans, but for the community in general. “It will be expansion in the right direction,” Stroemsvik explained, referring to the additional operations the airport could possibly undertake to enhance service while preserving the small, community feeling for which it is known. With skydiving and glider operations already being offered, the future looks bright for the airport.