Parents - how do you pass history on to your children?

Jollygreenslugg · **Posted:** Sun Oct 09, 2011 5:46 pm

G'day folks,

I'm posting this here as it pertains to the history of the USAAF. I'd be interested in parental feedback.

Last year, my wife and I took full-time care of a little foster-daughter, Annie. Coming from a very disadvantaged background, she has quite a few medical issues with her vision, hearing and skin. She was deaf, and is learning to speak and hear thanks to a cochlear implant. Thankfully she is intelligent and is quickly catching up, with reading, speech and sign-language going well. She has a complicated medical treatment and management regimen but she is a beautifully happy child.

Annie likes to sit with me in the evenings when I read about warbirds, follow WIX and paint my flying jackets. She 'helps' with the paint and brushes, and really enjoys it. I've been pointing out to her that there have been men who have put themselves in harm's way for a greater good, and I'm gradually trying to instill in her an appreciation for the service of those who served. I'm tying it into teaching her that it's always important to do what is right.

I found a cheap kid's flying jacket copy on ebay, which set me back about fifteen bucks, delivered, from the UK. I painted a 61st FS patch and AF shoulder patches, along with her name on the back. It matches the "Pistol Packin Mama" jacket I've just painted. I gave it to Annie on Saturday, which was her eighth birthday. She was very excited, and pointed to pictures of 56th FG airmen in a book of mine and then to her jacket. She's getting it.

Annie is laughing in these photos. She was very excited.

So, parents, how do you instil an appreciation of warbird and military history in your kids?

Cheers,
Matt

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Sun Oct 09, 2011 5:55 pm

EXACTLY what your doing!

Dan Johnson II · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 1:49 am **Posts:** 659

Oldest son Andrew was drawing detailed WW2 birds by the time he was 9 years old. He was a wonderful model builder too. Lost him in a car wreck in 2005. We used to volunteer at the Minnesota ANG Museum. In the cockpit of an F4

Middle daughter Dani was the super student and they did a history day project. She interviewed Micky Axton who was a WASP pilot. Managed to get in a T-6 and spent a lot of time with Ms Axton who was wonderful in the time she spent talking to my daughter.

Youngest son Matthew. Adopted, also deaf and with cochlear implants. Like with oldest son, it's all around him with the books, the models, the flying helmets etc. He saw his first Mustang when he was 11 months old and was in awe.

Posted before but from a recent trip to Warhawks LLC.

In front of the P40 with an A-11 flying helmet and B-8 goggles down.

On the wing of Twilight Tear

In the cockpit of Sweet Revenge.

How airplanes work at the Science Museum

Once the flying helmet is on, it's tough getting it off him

rwdfresno · **Posted:** Sun Oct 09, 2011 9:38 pm

Matt, what a really cool thread! I love seeing the next generation learning about history. Good on you. It sounds like you know exactly what to do. My daughters (6 and

are just now starting to take interest in why daddy "likes army/airplane stuff." My oldest got to "drive" a jeep for the first time not too long ago in the M151 and has been riding in jeeps, deuce in a halves, and sitting under shady B-25 wings watching airplanes fly by since they were babies, but I don't think they ever thought much about it until recently. I think if you expose them to it long enough and in interesting ways they will find a way to connect to history in their own way. For instance the jacket painting is a really neat way to gain interest. She may not care much about airplanes but I'll bet she loves painting and art. If she sees you doing that and even better gets to "help" she is learning about history and making her own connection to history.

Ryan

SaxMan · **Posted:** Sun Oct 09, 2011 9:51 pm

+1

My daughter is autistic, non-verbal. Unlike many children with autism, Jessica is not bothered by loud noises, so airplane noises don't bother her. She loves airplanes, and has flown more in her first 7 years than I did in my first 30 years.

I've taken her to Udvar-Hazy and taken her to see the Collings Foundation twice, including their stop in Westminster, Maryland this afternoon. She's not the most patient person, so we were only able walk through the B-24 because the line for the B-17 was much longer. Maybe next year we'll hit the 17, and maybe one day even go for a flight. I'm planning on taking her to NASM downtown one day, too.

svengi · **Joined:** Wed Jul 28, 2010 5:44 pm **Posts:** 79

Wow!

Matt: Awesome, that is about the coolest idea! Annie looks so happy with her jacket! Keep up the good work.
Dan: That's a helluva great picture of your son Andrew, he looks like he had a great time. As well, the picture of Matthew in the goggles!

For what it's worth, I applaud you all for what I'd consider kick-ass parenting, which is none too easy to begin with!

Jollygreenslugg · **Posted:** Mon Oct 10, 2011 6:26 pm

G'day folks,

Thank you for your kind words and feedback. It helps to be reminded that there are plenty of people walking the same path, trying their best with their kids. A foster-child is certainly a gift, a challenge and a joy. I'm regularly impressed with Annie's ability to show concern and empathy for others in difficulty, especially given her own tough early childhood. She's excited about a going to school on Thursday this week, as it is a uniform-free day so they can wear what they like. She has already indicated that she'll be flying the flag for the 56th FG!

Dan, I'm sorry to hear of your loss, and I can't imagine what it'd be like to lose a child. In my previous role, I've spent many, many hours with people who have suffered great losses, and the common theme seems to be that it doesn't get easier, they just get more 'used' with the reality of their loss. I'm deepy impressed and will follow your example as shown with Matthew. (great name, that!) I've started by taking Annie to various aviation events and places. We're fortunate enough to live a half-hour drive from the Temora Aviation Museum which has one of the best warbird collections in Australia. Annie's enthusiasm was unbounded, even if she looks quite solemn in the following poor-quality phone pic;

SaxMan, I can appreciate the challenges of children's ability to be patient!

This parenting caper is a challenge, but I wouldn't miss it for the world.

Cheers,
Matt

DaveG · **Posted:** Mon Oct 10, 2011 9:44 pm

This is an awesome thread; these stories are wonderful. And Dan, my condolences on the loss of your son. That's a great picture of him in the Phantom. I really love the shot of your Matthew, checking himself out in the reflection on Twilight Tear.

This was in today's Knoxville News-Sentinel, about a program called Honor Air. WWII vets are flown to Washington, DC to see the WWII Memorial, all expenses paid by a local dry cleaner.

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/oct/1 ... s-of-teen/

PbyCat-Guy · **Posted:** Tue Oct 11, 2011 10:43 am

Glad I took the time to read this thread. The way that I got into it, was that I was surrounded by it. Hearing my grandpa speak about him flying B-24s in India and all his experiences as a Continental Airlines pilot in DC-3s. Also with his brother being a B-29 Navigator and all the crazy things they did as kids, not knowing they were being bootleggers driving cars between Wheeling, WV and Pittsburgh. My dad took me to a lot of museums and airshows. My step-mom's uncle was a B-17 pilot in the 8th AF and he told some cool stories, but passed away around 1995.

JOMiller · **Joined:** Mon May 30, 2011 8:27 am **Posts:** 321

In my case it's a grandsonn. It's pretty easy for me.
I just take him to Battleship Park to see "Gwampa's
boat" or NNAM. All little boys love airplanes. Last
year I was one of the parents that accompanied his
second grade class to NNAM for a field trip. My
daughter also went and I'm proud to say she con-
ducted the tour. I was darn proud of her. She
did a fine job. So listening to me all those years
rubbed off on her some.

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Fri Oct 14, 2011 7:38 pm

Well for me it would be with my dad. I grew up at the hangar around old airplanes from Diapers on up. History was all around and it even went with us on Vacation. Fall River Mass to Battleship cove or the New England Air Museum. It would also follow us to some fields in PA and MD where my father would read my 3rd Great Granfathers Memiors about his time with the 3rd VT regiment on that very ground he once stood. Looking at equipment and reading books on my own would only help me want to know more. I believe it only truly sank in at the age of 9 at my dads company X mas party. It was only 6 years after the official ending of the Vietnam War. One of my dads employees got pretty heavy into the Kentucky water and started telling stories about his year in the army. He got pretty loud when he spoke on how his own country turned their backs on him. He eventually would storm out of the lobby while a fellow vet apologised for his friends behavior and went after him. My father soon followed and I would tag along behind. When we got to the hangar offices, we found desks overturned and chairs embedded into the walls. I remember the scene like it was yesterday and it has been with me all of these years and since then I have been "Preserving" what ever I can.

It has been written "there is no glory in war" and if you want history to be passed on, this needs to be understood first.

jbell · **Posted:** Wed Oct 19, 2011 8:56 am

Great post! Cameron "8", is ate up with it! I just don't understand where he gets it? :wink:

His grandpa flew in the Pacific. 374th Troop Carrier Group.
We do lots of aviation and historic military vehicle related trips. He's been to TOM twice, MVPA Convention and all the local stuff. He's ridden in tanks, halftracks and LVT's . Lucky kid! Bomber ride looms. Whats the minimum age?
Spends all day drawing battles and dogfights. My fault...........John

Airlift48 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 744

My daughter Alison learns from Dad.

Sitting in the C-54

Sitting in my 1943 Willys

Not to mention her toy C-54 (Every kids got one of those, right?)

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Thu Oct 20, 2011 11:26 am

In my house even the dog is an airplane fan

I was lucky to have people in my life that saw me interested in aviation and warbirds and supported me in it since I was about 13

I have some pics that I will post of my daughter Elizabeth once I am home. Her interest started because of my models in my home. When I get a new one her and I sit and talk about what the real one did. I am sure that some of them stand out like wild stories. She is 6 but has a full understanding of the Tuskegee Airmen. She also loves the Corsair and has a 1/18th scale model of one over her bed. Right now she wants to be a medical helicopter pilot. I am sure it will change a thousand times before she turns 18, but I always try to make sure she knows I support her in it.
She drew a picture of a plane with a Pitot tube after a day when I explained to her what one was after she thought it was a gun. The next day the teacher wanted to meet with us when we picked her up and she said she drew a machine gun on a plane, and insists that is is some sort of tube. I had to laugh.

Django · **Posted:** Thu Oct 20, 2011 4:15 pm

Dan, I am sorry to hear that, and I can not imagine how tough every day is without him.

I would suspect that kind of pain never goes away. As a fairly new parent ( my boy turned 3 yesterday) that is one of my biggest fears.

I'm not sure how I'll present the history aspect. I suppose it will come in time when he's older and can grasp those kinds of concepts. For now, he can identify a Mustang and knows that I paint girls on airplanes. :lol:

. He loves tools. He had his Elmo riding airplane upside down last month with his tools sprawled everywhere. When I asked him what he was doing, he said "I'm fixing the brakes". :lol:

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