A day at the Air Show

Attended my first Air Show yesterday. It was at Andrews AFB. Seems incredible that I went this far without seeing one. It helps to attend with Military credentials though. The parking, while not VIP, is much more convenient. As a side note the Major left her ID in the car at the parking lot. At the 2nd security checkpoint we had to catch a bus back to the parking lot to fetch her ID. Not bad at that time of day. It only delayed us about 20 minutes. The ground displays at this air show alone were fascinating. Anyone interested in military vehicles and equipment or anything that flys would be entertained for hours. Throw in the aerial events and it is a full afternoon well spent. The enclose photo is the rocket assisted C-130 used by the Blue Angels. I got a kick out of the child in the lower right holding her ears.
I was in the Army for 6 years in the 1970's. I witnessed something yesterday I never once saw during my enlistment. After the Blue Angels had flown the Major wanted to watch them taxi to a halt. The crowd had thinned out and we were able to walk up to the fence. As we stood there a few airmen dressed in their BDU's walked by on the other side of the fence. As they approached us 2 young boys standing next to us held their hands out to the airmen for "high fives". As they passed each of the airmen gave the boys the hand slap. It was very cute and amazing to me. Just some ordinary GI's doing ordinary work and these kids treating them like they were stars. It was great to see. Believe me, that did not happen in the 1970's.

Spear tip of American Foreign Policy

Yesterday I went with "S"to Walter Reed Army Hospital. I was fairly stressed walking through the hospital as I am ANY time I am in a hospital. I enjoyed seeing all the military people and the feeling that in this hospital someone was in charge. That's an old military joke ,but it did feel good.
I had been in the hospital for some time and was dealing with the stress that "S" was about to be put through a much more invasive procedure than originally thought. The nurse then found a way to get rid of me and make me feel useful at the same time. They sent me to pick up the meds "S" would need after the procedure. Due to some normal SNAFUs on several levels, it actually took over 2.5 hours to pick up these meds. That was 15 minutes less time than it was before "S" was released from post-op. It kept me busy and focused on things other than the immediate concern.

Walking through the hallways of Walter Reed turned out to be an emotional experience. I saw a robust looking young soldier walking toward me and only as he passed me in the hallway did I glance down and notice his prosthetic left leg. I was surprised that I even glanced down because the young soldier's walk was so unnoticeable. I was happy that this soldier walked with such confidence. I was worried that I was going to overanalyze the experience. I know myself way to well.

That soldier didn't need anything from me. He walked like a soldier with a purpose. But it was then that I remembered that this place was full of soldiers like him. Some much worse off. I thought back to the autumn of 2002 when Congress abdicated its power to a disturbed president. I wondered if I could have done more to prevent this war. A letter to a Congressman or Senator seems awfully lame at this point. Attending an antiwar demonstration in DC on a freezing cold Sunday in January was also weak. Why did we send these kids to a place where anyone with any sense could see that WE do not belong there.

If it was not such a disturbance to all the wonderful work being performed at the hospital it would not be a bad idea for all of us to witness what happens to those who are chosen to forcefully implement American diplomacy after the diplomats fail.