The Proper Salute

Gunfighter Skies 2014.  I had never been to an airshow before so when I went to Gunfighter Skies 2014 I had no idea what to expect.  What I saw exceeded any expectation.  First.  When I get onto a military base I become an instant Fan Girl. When I talk at schools the kids always ask “who’s the coolest celebrity you have ever met?” I’m not just blowing smoke up their ass when I say “anybody in the military.”  So. Needless to say I was so excited to be at Mountain Home for the Thunderbirds.

Not only was the runway packed with F-35s, bombers, drones and other military aircraft it was also filled with veterans and current service members.  One particular story stands out to me from this weekend.  There were two men.  One a 92-year-old WWII veteran, his son, a Vietnam veteran, and his son’s wife sitting in their chairs and waiting for the Thunderbirds to perform.  They were about 20 feet from the barriers.  As the time drew closer for the Thunderbirds tons of people crowded in front of them to get a better look at the performance.  This 92-year-old man had a cane and wasn’t steady on his feet so standing to see over the wave of crowd wasn’t an option.  That’s when a man from the VIP tent, who was watching the entire thing, came out and took the family into the tent and sat them at his table in the very front.

When the Thunderbird pilots walked out and saluted the crowd, the 92-year-old WWII veteran shakily and very slowly stood at attention and put his hand to his head and perfectly saluted them.  The rows of people who were eagerly awaiting the high flying acrobatics probably didn’t witness the precision of the salute but on that day, that man gave me one of those moments you will never forget.  Not only do I thank him for his service but wherever you are….thank you for being you!