About 6,000 PT-19s were built for the Army in the early 1940s. More than 5,000 of those were built in Hagerstown, said Kurtis Meyers, president of the Hagerstown Aviation Museum.
"It was one of only a few planes that cadets used in learning to become combat pilots," Meyers said of the plane that affectionately was nicknamed the "Cradle of Heroes."
Garrott flew the PT-19 in World War II.
He said Wednesday that he always has been fascinated by planes and has built other models.
After building the remote-controlled PT-19 model at his summer home in Florida and flying it once, he decided to donate it to the museum.
"They do a really nice thing here, and it's a plane that was built by a company that at one time had a big impact on this community," Garrott said.
Many of the attendees at Wednesday's event said the same thing about Garrott.
"He is one of the quiet pillars in this community," said Del. Robert A. McKee, R-Washington. "He does a lot and gives a lot, but not in a way that makes people aware of what he's doing."
Garrott perhaps is best known for his efforts to keep The Maryland Theatre alive in the 1970s. He was part of a group that fought against its destruction after it was damaged by a fire in 1974.
Sen. Donald F. Munson, R-Washington, who also was at Discovery Station on Wednesday, said Garrott has championed several causes that have "made Hagerstown a better place."
"He's been a real force for good in this community," Munson said.
The PT-19 now is on permanent display. Although it belongs to Discovery Station, it is being displayed in the Hagerstown Aviation Museum's showroom.
