Lonely Pilot Bob

I recently changed my FaceBook profile picture to this:

It was taken at Davis-Monthan AFB, (Tuscon) AZ in 1957.  I was 10 or 11 years old at the time.  I changed my picture to “honor” my service to our Nation, as an Air Force Brat.  Anyway, this morning I want to tell you about what’s ‘behind the kid.’

If you look close, you can see airplanes.  They are sitting in the “Boneyard.”

http://www.thelivingmoon.com/45jack_files/03files/Davis_Monthan_Air_Base_Air_Force_Boneyard.html

Also of note is, there is no fence between me and the Boneyard.  So, where do you think I played?  As a matter of fact, I ‘soloed’ my first airplane in that boneyard!

It wasn’t sanctioned, by any means, but that’s where we all played.  They didn’t need a fence because in those days, we didn’t destroy things.  There also weren’t as many lawyers.  How many playgrounds have lawyers ruined over the years now?  (Ah ha, a topic for yet another ‘post’ someday!)

Just off my right shoulder sat another house, like the one you see behind me.  It was between those 2 houses that I leaned that you do not put a can of pork and beans in a campfire without first opening it!

We were having a ‘sleep out’ between the 2 houses one night, and decided to cook some beans.  So, when the fire was going nicely, I set a can of beans right in the middle of it.  Crap!  I don’t know what hurt most: the hot beans on my leg, or the piece of tin can embedded in my leg?

It is truly remarkable that I survived my youth…

I have been working on an initiative to gain recognition for the sacrifices and service of Military Brats to our nation.  Through my US Representative, Mr. Bob Latta, we now have a bill before Congress (although “in committee”) to authorize a Congressional Commemorative Lapel Pin (Button).  It is H.R. 1889, House Resolution 1889.

The bill states that, “shall be designed, as approved by the Secretary of Defense, to identify and recognize an eligible child dependent of a member of the armed forces who serves on active duty for a period of more than 30 days.”  With all the bipartisan bickering in Congress these days, this is the only stumbling block I see.  The cost of the pins is a “pass-through” cost to the parents: “(c) Cost- Presentation of a children of military service members commemorative lapel button is conditioned upon the payment of an amount sufficient to cover the cost of manufacture and distribution of the lapel button.”

So, I have a solution.  Let’s use the already accepted flower of Military Brats as the design of the pin: Simple, huh?

This is a reply I received last night off a post I put on an internet “Brat” site about the initiative to recognize Military Brats with a Congressional Commemorative Lapel Pin:

“I’ve met with my congressman too, and Roberta has written to just about everyone she could..and no luck.  My congressman Tom Rooney R/FL said that they do recognize our plight, and need for recognition, but the problem with this bill getting passed right now is of course, the budget.  Unfortunately, recognizing brats by producing hundreds of thousands of pins is not a priority budget item.”

Grrrr!  And, my reply:

When people like this tell me I “can’t” do something or another, it is in my nature to become even more determined!  We will make this happen!

Aside:  “Thousands” of pins?  We are probably talking “millions” of pins!