A Few Moments - US Air Force Museum

Back in 2014, I had the very rare privilege of being honored in a ceremony at the US Air Force Museum, however, due to poor health, we missed that ceremony and all of the subsequent annual ceremonies as more names of airmen were added to this wall.  In fact, we haven't seen my name on this "Wall Of Honor" at the US Air Force Museum in person until just last week!  

(The photo at right is from that ceremony in 2014 courtesy of the US Air Force Museum Foundation.)

Two of our grandchildren, Lukey and Kenzie, were with us during this visit last week but they were unaware of what they would find at this national museum.  They simply thought they would see a lot of airplanes at this immense museum.  

As we approached this wall, I pointed out the name of the wall explaining that the names on this wall are the names of airmen who have been honored here at the museum with a "Data Plate" in their name and a brief biography written online.  Then we slowly walked from board to board, each board containing 95 names, each name on its own Data Plate.  

I knew my Data Plate was on the sixth board so I slowed down at the sixth board and asked, "Hey, hold on a second...  Do you recognize any of the names here?"

At the bottom righthand corner of this board was a Data Plate with my name clearly printed on it.

Lukey's jaw dropped and his eyes widened when he saw it...  as Kenzie approached the Data Plate, a smile appeared on her face.  

We then explained that I had been honored in a ceremony back in 2014 but we haven't been able to get to the museum due to my poor health so this is our first time seeing my name on this Wall of Honor. 

The kids were surprised and it was nice to finally see my name on this Wall of Honor in person...  a little weird and surreal, but nice.   

I'll write more about our visit to this museum in another blog entry.