Everytime I read a newspaper, or read a post that states that a warbird crashed, and took the life of it's pilot makes me very sad indeed. I fortunately have the opportunity to take my son to wright patterson afb museum in Dayton, Ohio. I explained to him what the young men did in these machines during world war 2. I explained that some were as young as 17 years of age, many had never been away from home, and were thrust into the position of having death tug on his shirt sleeves everyday. What a way to grow up.
I also sometimes think that people are placed in history, in an exact time and place to accomplish something.
Most or all of the young men who fought in WW2 suffered through "the great depression " of the late 1920s' basically up until the war started. Were they there, placed by History to be toughened up? To experience the hardships that many people suffered through that terrible Depression? Who knows?
Everytime a warbird goes down, a piece of our History dies with it. It's Museums such as Wright Patterson, and the Smithsonian air and space Museum, as well as others that preserve our history, and remind us of the mistakes mankind has made.
Let's not forget the valiant young men, who actually flew those craft during the war. Let's not forget the lessons that war teaches us. and lets not forget to teach our children about what our fathers, and grandfathers did to preserve freedom, at all costs, so that we can continue to live the life we lead today.
<S> vets, nicely done
Hajo
[ 06-09-2001: Message edited by: Hajo ]
