Warbird Information Exchange

Sorry to post this here, but thought it would get the most views here...I also posted in the Military Matters section if this is removed.

Tomorrow, June 6th, the Chariman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff along with the Secretary of Defense are to be on hand in Bedford, Virginia to help celebrate the remembrance of the great invasion. As the veterans of D-Day are getting up in years, each year they show up at the D-Day Memorial is reason enough to make the trip and pay respect. I have gone out of my way to thank all of the veterans that show up each year. Sgt Bob Slaughter is there every year and is an all-around wonderful human being.

Come to think of it, there is an L-bird there on display, so if I post some pix of it then this can stay here in the Hangar?

If you are going to be anywhere near central Virginia tomorrow, making the trip to Bedford to thank the vets would seem a proper thing to do.

_________________
Earn my respect and never lose it.
Demand my respect and never gain it. -Me

...just another plane dreamer.

I would like to get out there one day and see the memorial. I hear its quite a moving experience. Bob Slaughter who landed on Omaha Beach on June 6th with the 29th division was instrumental in getting the memorial built. He wrote a great book about his war time experience and when I called him one day to talk to him about the book, he coud not have been more accomodating. A real nice guy.

_________________
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

For additional info about the memorial, check http://www.dday.org They are planning a Nighttime Illumination using 1,000 luminaries to be placed along one side of the memorial. That would be a cool site. If anyone is interested they are looking for small donations for these luminaries.

_________________
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

It all happened before my time but I never forget the date. Thanks to all who saved the world. Especially those who didn't make it back or came back disabled. I'm not forgetting those folks who were "just doing their job". All heroes.

Larry

With D-Day I am always amazed the amount of countries that came together for this!

_________________
Shop the Airplane Bunker At
www.warbirdbunker.com

Sgt Slaughter's book is "Omaha Beach and Beyond". He went in on the first wave, was wounded twice and made it all the way to Germany with the 29th. Amazing story, but as you said Pat, he is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. and, yes, he was very instrumental in getting the Memorial built there in Bedford as a tribute to the many men from that small town who made the ultimate sacrifice on D-Day. A very good book about them is "The Bedford Boys".

If nothing else, maybe we could all take a minute today to remember those many thousands of men who gave it all on D-Day and beyond. "All gave some and some gave all" (I don't know who said that)

Out the door and heading that way.

_________________
Earn my respect and never lose it.
Demand my respect and never gain it. -Me

...just another plane dreamer.

I just wanted to add that in the book, Sgt Slaughter's description of getting across Omaha Beach is like nothing I have ever read before. Its a wonder anyone made it off the beach. Then many years later on one of the D Day anniversaries, Sgt Slaughter and other vets participated in a parade in St Lo I believe and they were joined by 100's of French children waving American flags. Bob Slaughter said that was one of the most emotional times in his entire life. I was touched by that.

_________________
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

Here is a story about the ceremonies. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/poli ... 6985.story

_________________
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

I made a small donation to the memorial in honor of Bob Slaughter. He personally wrote me a thank you note. A real class guy for sure.

_________________
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!