Commentary
Allow me to depart from my usual political commentary to share with you a few memories of this month of September.
A Birthday
September 18, 1947, is the 75th Anniversary of the U. S. Air Force. It is special to me because of the eight years of communications and public affairs experience I received in my service career.
During that period, I edited three base newspapers and wrote features for Stars and Stripes and The Airman, the official journal of the Air Force.
My duties extended to a wide variety of public affairs, including the coordination of the annual Armed Forces Day open houses, when we invited the public on base to see up close the aircraft based there, and to witness the flying of the Air Force’s Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team on one occasion.
I arranged demonstration flights for members of the local media and press conferences when an Air Force VIP came to inspect.
Looking back, my brief stint as the historian of an air refueling wing was perhaps the position that best prepared me for writing this blog because of the research and concise writing required.
After My Discharge, my communications and public affairs positions with several aerospace companies doing business with the Air Force led me to coordinate participation in the annual Air Force Show, sponsored by the Air Force Association (AFA) in Washington DC.
The AFA Air Force Ball, held annually in Los Angeles to honor scholarship recipients, sons and daughters of airmen killed in action, was a gala event we helped sponsor with pride. Seeing Jimmy Stewart on the dance floor was a special. Starring in a number of movies featuring the Air Force, he had a number of hours flying the B-52 and held the rank of brigadier general as an actor.
The Passing of the Queen
The days of events in the United Kingdom following the passing of Queen Elizabeth have brought back many fond memories of visits there.
Through September 1998, the Farnborough Air Show was held near the village of Farnborough, about 45 miles southeast of London. Managing my company’s participation required trips there every other year, as it alternated with the Paris Air Show. The Farnborough Air Show has since moved to July.
My wife was able to join me on several of those business trips to the UK, so seeing the events in Edinburgh and in London brought back so many memories for us.
In 2000, Aviation Week magazine invited me to attend a special cocktail hour and dinner in the Atlee Room of the House of Lords, followed by a tour of Parliament.
We toured Windsor Castle several times. It never gets old. On our last trip, we celebrated Christmas 2016 in Windsor with our youngest son and his wife. Watching the Queen brought to Windsor for services at St. George’s Chapel and interment at the Castle will have extra meaning to us.
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the birthday of my grandson, Bryce, who was born on September 30, 1994.
With 49 days to the midterm elections, I encourage you to vote Republican.
May God continue to bless the United States of America.
