Santa Monica community celebrates first responders

This year’s edition of the event also honored the first responders who worked tirelessly to protect their communities during the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. The 2025 Palisades Fire burned just a few miles away from the Santa Monica airport, which itself played a role in the firefighting efforts.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles Police Department, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (often referred to as Cal Fire), and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department brought their rotorcraft to the event and were among 12 honorees that received commendations from Spirit of Santa Monica, the nonprofit that organized Douglas Day. Other recipients of commendations included the Santa Monica Fire Department, American Red Cross, and community organizations.

“Today is about gratitude,” Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete said as she presented the awards. “We honor our heroic firefighters, police officers, and community organizations that stood bravely with us during the wildfires and continue to help us to recover. We also take a moment to thank the men and women who fight for us from the air. Often unseen, but always essential.”

Not only did Santa Monica produce the world’s first circumnavigation in an aircraft, it was also the original home of the company that supplied the hardware for that milestone and carried on for decades to become one of the most influential aviation manufacturers of the twentieth century—Douglas Aircraft. This was highlighted by the event’s centerpiece, a Douglas C–53D (the military variant of the DC–3) named D-Day Doll that made its “homecoming,” returning to Santa Monica for the first time since it was built there in 1943.

Douglas Aircraft operated out of Santa Monica until the 1970s, when the need for a longer runway for the company’s DC–8 jetliner necessitated a move to Long Beach. But the event focused on more than just the first circumnavigation or even the airport’s rich history. It was equally about the airport’s future.

The airport faces significant challenges, with the city of Santa Monica expressing its intention to close the airport after December 31, 2028. But the aviation community is rallying around the airport—and that community is growing.

In the past year, a flight school and general aviation maintenance company began operations at the airport, joining existing aviation organizations like Angel Flight West and two other flight schools. There are other aviation businesses supporting jobs at the airport, including rotorcraft simulation company Loft Dynamics’ U.S. headquarters.

The organizers of the event said they hope it shows the community that the future of Santa Monica’s airport is one of innovation and inspiration for future generations.

“I think we have a great opportunity right now to inspire the community, to show them what’s possible, to get them excited about the future of Santa Monica’s airport,” said Ben Marcus, cofounder and president of Spirit of Santa Monica, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to preserving and continuing the legacy and future of innovation and aviation at the airport that put on the event.

Marcus pointed out that events like Douglas Day are not only for pilots, they provide public proof of how the airport can continue to serve the community, and he expressed hope that the community will continue to rally behind the airport.

“Don’t give up hope. It’s been publicly reported in lots of places that this airport is closing; that’s not necessarily the case,” Marcus said. “The airport can stay open, it can evolve, it can become a better airport. Not just for aircraft owners and pilots, but for the community. If you think what we do is important, you can contribute to our cause, visit our website, and see how you can support these efforts.”