A Personal Note...
Let me begin by saying that what I'm about to write has really nothing to do with modeling. It does involve helicopters but more in the sense of what they did and the role they played in a very personal ceremony for me and my family. So if you're a modeling purist who often comments "what's this got to do with modeling" don't read any further. If on the other hand you are or ever were in the military, or simply have a strong sense of honor, then please read on.
I mentioned a few weeks ago that my father had passed away after a three year battle with advanced Parkinsons and a brain tumor. This was the most traumatic moment in my life, and I'm saying this after having built a career in the military dealing with traumatic experiences. Anyway, my father served for 32+ years in the USAF and went from slick sleeve Airman to MSgt, then went "bootstrap", got a commission and finally retired as a Lt Colonel. I learned a lot about leadership, honor, integrity and service from him. I also learned about compassion, family, work ethic and morality. So even though we (my unit) were fully ramped up involved in a major Joint DOD exercise doing SOF Infil/Exfil, CSAR, DLQ's you name it, I still asked my unit if they could do a fly-by for my dad's funeral.....
Fast forward to the day of the funeral (15 June). Everything was running late. We finally departed the funeral home and while the procession of 14 vehicles meandered it's way through downtown Anchorage Alaska, folks were cutting in and out, nobody stopped or really showed respect, basically what you would expect. But as soon as we drove on to Ft. Richardson, we were immediately given a full escort through the base and on towards the national cemetary on the back side of the base. Throughout this trip, EVERY vehicle stopped and EVERY troop walking down the sidewalk (in or out of uniform) stopped, came to attention and presented arms. As we turned into the cemetary (I was 2nd in line behind the hearse) the MP escorts who were blocking off traffic jumped out of their vehicles and presented arms.......That my friends is when I first lost it and got choked up. I guess I was just filled with so much pride for not only my father and what he had accomplished, but for my brothers in arms and how much honor and respect they gave to one of their fallen, even though they had no idea of his name, rank or service. I felt proud to be wearing my service dress uniform. I felt part of a family....part of a band of brothers.
As we pulled in behind the hearse when it stopped at the gazebo where the ceremony was to take place, the honor guard came to full attention and carried out their duties in one of the most professional displays I have ever seen. Understand that these troops do this as a volunteer activity in addition to their normal duties. I was again filled with pride, along with the sadness of losing my father. I should also tell you that it was POURING rain. My sisters and I remarked that it was dad's way of having the last laugh on all of us. The other thing I noticed is that while we had announced that the ceremony was to be a close knit affair with family and friends of my father, there was a huge crowd already formed standing in the rain. Everyone from former colleagues (civilian and military) ranging in stature from the Mayor and commanding General to Airmen, NCOs and folks who worked with and for my father. They were all there standing in the soaking rain.
Now as we were gathered there silently watching as the honor guard tightly snapped and folded the flag over my father's casket, I was thinking "well, the boys at the Squadron must have had a mechanical, or got called off on a real-world SAR mission". But then I heard that sound....the sound that anybody who's ever worked around a -60 has heard a thousand times. As I stood there I whispered to my mother who was sitting at my side "Here they come mom". It started off as a low rumble off in the distance, and grew and grew until a formation of HH-60G's blasted in from the South at treetop level, on the deck screaming in. Every head turned as they came in and every umbrella dropped as folks temporarily forgot about the beating downpour. As the ground was shaking and the wind swirled, number two in the formation pulled the nose up, banked hard over 90 degrees and tore off at treetop level to produce a missing man formation....all off this right over our heads. That's when I shook my fist in a pride filled "YEAH" feeling so much pride that the guys were able to pull it off and do the fly-by. I lost it once again. As soon as they had blasted in, they were gone. Peeling away until they were just a low rumble in the distance. The rest of the ceremony was very touching and moving with folks coming forward to tell stories of times shared with my father. The chaplain read a letter I had written to my father after he had passed. The firing party fired their volley and taps played. My mother was peresented the flag on the behalf of the President and a grateful nation, and everyone slowly departed to their homes to continue with their lives.
It wasn't until several days later when I learned that lead was being flown by one of my best friends. He told me that his bird had developed a bad fuel leak from the probe tip, and that if not for some kick *** work done by the maintenance folks at our base, the fly-by would have never happened. He also told me that they were supposed to divert on a real-world SAR mission to search for an ELT, but they told the CP "Jolly 21 flight is gonna be unavailable for the next 15 mikes" so that they could do the fly-by. The FE on lead was also a good friend as well as the pilot of number two.
So why did I tell all of you here at the helicopter section of the Finescale Forums this story? I guess because I have come to look upon all of you as my extended modeling family. A family that have many of the same beliefs that I have concerning honor and respect, regardless of one's politics or nationalities.
Maybe that's why I go out of my way to participate so much in the forums. Some day I hope to meet each and every one of you.
Once again, sorry for writing such a long post and I hope those who are modeling forum purists will understand and not be put out.
Salbando
