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[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” custom_class=’news-title’] WWII POW Veteran Honored at AEF Eagle Release – August 2, 2013
[/av_textblock] [av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”] WBIR.Com
Pigeon Forge, TN
August 2, 2013

The last of nine eaglets hatched at the American Eagle Foundation at Dollywood this summer were released into the wild on Friday, August 2, 2013. The foundation released the 13-week-old male and female birds at Douglas Lake.

In the past, the foundation put radio trackers on its eagles to track their movements, but that signal would only work if the birds were in and around Douglas Lake.

The eagles released Friday have satellite trackers, which means the eagle foundation can track them anywhere in the country.

At Friday’s release, the American Eagle Foundation honored a former World War II prisoner of war, Worth Miller. He was captured in Italy by German forces and spent 14 months in captivity.

Miller, who now lives in Kodak, had the honor of naming the male bird. He named it Thunderbird after his Army unit in World War II.

Miller says he was grateful for the honor.

“I enjoyed it very much to be recognized like that. I didn’t do nothing to be recognized for anything like that, and I’m glad they did,” he said.

The female bird’s name is Destiny.

The American Eagle Foundation says after spending a couple days at Douglas Lake, the birds will likely head north to the Great Lakes.

You can track their movements on the foundation’s website, https://eaglesorg.wpengine.com.
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