Tim's September 2018 Checkpoints Class News Article
HELLO '68!! It is definitely
50th reunion time and it will be great to see so many of my favorite
senior citizens, again! Based on the planning and preparation of Mike
Parkinson and our Colorado-based reunion committee, it should be a spectacular
and memorable gathering for all who attend-particularly during our newest
event--the Doolie Squadron Brunch.
For those who have a difficult time remembering what it was like to live in Colorado, here are a few reminders: Your only sense of direction is towards the mountains and away from the mountains. April showers bring May blizzards. Your golf bag has a 9-iron, a 3-wood, and a lightning rod. You think the major food groups are granola bars, tofu, and Fat Tire Beer. You've used "checking for ticks" as an excuse to get others to take their clothes off. Your last Colorado memories were of USAFA in your rear-view mirror.
'68'S WING COMMANDERS PRESENT SABRE
TO CLASS OF 2018: Many thanks to Carl McPherson
for sending me the photo and summary of our '68 Wing Commanders' presentation
of a sabre to the wing commanders of our Legacy Class of 2018. There
are now three wing commanders for each class--one for the summer,
fall, and spring. To handle this change in leadership opportunities
of the Cadet Wing, Ed Eberhart and Carl McPherson had
our Class President, Phil Pignataro, fill in to serve as our
class' summer wing commander. In addition to the sabre presentation,
Ed, Carl, and Phil spoke about their experiences to some of the squadrons
during their commissioning ceremonies and stayed for the graduation
and Thunderbirds demonstration. Carl said a great time was had by
all and they were proud to represent the Class of 1968 at Legacy Class
presentations and ceremonies.
THUNDERBIRD PILOT'S SON RETIRES:
As luck, fate, and providence would have it, I happened to be at Randolph
AFB in June when Steve Mish's son, Jerry, retired from the
Air Force after 20+ years of service. Jerry was assigned to the Office
of the Air Education and Training Command's Inspector General and
his boss happened to be my son-in-law, Colonel Fred Cunningham
(USAFA '94). The ceremony was held at the Parr Officers' Club on base,
which happened to be on the same street where Fred and my daughter,
Melissa (USAFA '96), live. Since I did not have a vehicle, the 100-yard
walk from the Cunningham abode to the O'Club provided a modicum of
exercise and an opportunity to join the Mish family and friends for
Jerry's retirement ceremony and celebration. The family put together
an excellent slide show of days-gone-by that captured the essence
of growing up in an Air Force family with a grandfather, father, and
son all serving our country as fearless aviators. Jerry's final remarks
about who was the best pilot in the family brought a good round of
smack-talk and laughter from all who attended. Mucho congrats to Jerry,
his family, and his Thunderbird Dad.
WEBMASTER'S GRANDSON GRADUATES FROM
COLLEGE: The premier class webmaster in all of Checkpoints Land,
Pat Russell, was in my neck-of-the-woods in May to attend the
graduation of his grandson, Joe, from George Mason University in Fairfax,
Virginia. While in the area, Pat and his family took in the sights
and sounds of Washington, D.C. and spent some time touring the Smithsonian
and Holocaust museums in between dodging a slew of thunderstorms that
plagued the area for a couple of weeks. In addition to seeing the
sights, he was also able to get in a nice visit with Bob and Sue Pauli.
Congrats to Pat and Nita on their grandson's graduation and many thanks
to Pat for all he does on our behalf. Our class is truly blessed to
have such a dedicated and professional webmaster to keep us online
and connected. |