Happy Belated Birthday, US Air Force!

Greetings!:

In the name of the House of Old-School, I extend my heartiest belated congratulations and best wishes to the United States Air Force on its 59th anniversary!
 I actually thought this anniversary might be today, the 27th, or yesterday, the 26th, but checking the Air Force's Website informs me that I was mistaken! 

As I expect many of us know, the Air Force as we currently know it did not become an independent branch of the Armed Forces until the late 1940's, 1947
to be precise, it having had various manifestations prior to that, perhaps the best-known of which being the Army Air Corps.  In fact, unless I am grossly
mistaken, the Air Force's famous song, which begins "Off we go into the wild blue yonder," used to close with the words, "Nothing can stop the Army Air
Corps," that song having been written in 1939 since 1964 marked its 25th anniversary (I have evidence of this latter on an old open-reel recording made
off the radio).  The Air Force's Website,
www.af.mil,
informs us that the separate Air Force, along with the present Department of Defense, resulted from, if I have the title right, the National Security Act
of 1947, which President Truman signed, creating both the Department of Defense and the three separate service departments.  Perhaps I should check into
this further, but I was of understanding that the Departments of the Army and Navy previously existed under the old War Department (the Navy Department
_CERTAINLY_ did, or at least the office of Secretary of the Navy, as reported during a broadcast of President Franklin Roosevelt's third inauguration in
1941 which I also have on reel-to-reel tape).  My late and favourite uncle, Mr. John Henry Davidson, Honourary Patron of this blog, served briefly in the
Army Air Service during World War I, and my father, unfortunately a rather unsavoury character, served in either that or the present Air Force around the
time he married my mother and I was born. 

Though I regretably must admit to not being as well informed about today's Air Force as I perhaps should be, I trust it is a matter of general knowledge
that modern warfare usually begins with air strikes, this, if I am not mistaken, even going back as far as World War II.  Operation Desert Storm _CERTAINLY_
began with them.  In my post about 9-11, I mentioned meeting two Air Forcemen who know a Major General I had the privilege and pleasure of meeting at last
year's Navy/Air Force football game in Annapolis.  He and a classmate of his at the Air Force Academy told me that the F16 fighter, along with other current
Air Force aircraft, are _MOST_ impressive in their capabilities, and thus it would appear that we can be assured of air superiority if and when we need
it (as we currently do in Iraqi Freedom and/or Enduring Freedom, etc.)!  And it goes without saying that those who fly combat aircraft and man their weaponry
must be as brave as their ground and sea counterparts since, when it unfortunately happens, it is obviously not pleasant being shot downout of the sky.
 Yet one hopes that, in the _VAST_ majority of cases, it is _WE_ who are doing the shooting-down, etc.! 

Again though it is late, I would here like to share a message from the Secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force Chief of Staff which was written to
celebrate this recent birthday, this having come from the afore-mentioned Air Force Website. 

9/18/2006 - WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- The following is a message from Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael
Moseley on the Air Force's 59th birthday Sept. 18. 

"Over the course of the past 59 years, the United States Air Force has established itself as the dominant force in air, space and cyberspace. Our knowledge-enabled
Airmen have revolutionized the way our nation defends itself and its allies across the full spectrum of threats. 

"Before our inception as an independent service, the Air Force responded wherever and whenever needed, whether for disaster relief, humanitarian operations
or combat operations. We have only gotten better in time. 

"Our heritage is one of technological innovation, courage and dedication. As we build on that proud heritage and look toward new and unlimited horizons,
we will continue to deliver unmatched air, space and cyberspace dominance for the interdependent joint team and our nation. 

"Your tireless commitment, agility and professionalism are the foundation for our successes. Without you, and the support of your families, we could not
be the world-class team we are. America's Airmen exemplify our core values of Integrity First, Service Before Self and Excellence in All We Do. 

"As we lead into our diamond anniversary celebration, we count on our most valuable asset -- our Airmen -- to continue the magnificent work our forebears
began. We are confident you'll conquer tomorrow's challenges with the same courage, commitment and confidence that defined our first 59 years. 

"Thanks to our entire Air Force family across the globe: active duty, civilian, Guard, Reserve, retirees, veterans and all their families. Happy birthday,
Air Force!" 

In process of considering and preparing this post, it was my most-opportune pleasure to discover that there is going to be an Air Force Memorial, that it
is being completed, if it is not already, in Arlington, Virginia, across from the Pentagon, and that it is to be dedicated on Saturday, 14 October, at
1:30 p.m. Eastern time!  The most-visible element of this memorial will be three stainless-steel spires going 270 feet into the sky and forming an equalateral
triangle, though each spire will be of a different height, thus providing differing views from different angles.  These three spires will represent the
three core values of the Air Force which you read in the above message, "integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do."  Members of the general public who are able to
attend will be able to view the ceremony, presumably via closed-circuit television, from the Pentagon South Parking Lot, and there is to be an Air Force
open house throughout the day there where visitors may view various aircraft and helicopters, etc.  Following the ceremony there is to be a concert in
that lot by a country singer whose name I know but whose work I may not yet know, Miss Lee Ann Womack (yet it just occurs to me that, unless I am _GROSSLY_
mistaken, I am virtually certain that it was she who performed a _VERY_ popular song called "I Hope You Dance" which I _HAVE_ heard many times.  Though
I have yet to hear it, though it is not my focus here, and begging the pardon of any who might find this interpolation in poor taste amid this attempt
at an Air Force tribute, our Honourary Patroness recorded that song, and those wishing to hear her rendition may go to
www.suzann.com/music/songs.htm.).
The ceremony, among the expected speeches and music from the Air Force Ceremonial Brass, is to also feature, weather permitting one assumes, some fly-overs
by modern and, if I recall correctly, historic aircraft, including the famous Air Force Thunderbirds.  Further information about this Memorial may be had
by going to
www.airforcememorial.org,
and hopefully as many of my Washington-Area visitors as possible can join me for this special event if all goes well! 
Once again I belatedly salute the Air Force on this anniversary-next before their milestone 60th, and thank all Air Force personnel, both past and present, both living
and those who died in discharge of their duties, very much for the service they provided and continue to provide to this Nation! 

Respectfully and joyfully submitted, 

J. V.

9-11

Greetings:

In the name of the House of Old-School, I join those of you who are so inclined in remembering those who lost their lives in the savage attacks on the World
Trade Center, the Pentagon, and that unintended field in Pennsylvania, on this date five years ago.  I further salute and remember those, both living and
dead, who risked their lives to save those trapped in the two buildings.  I cannot claim to be fully conversant with all the intricacies of the War on
Terror and the enemies it seeks to defeat, but one thing is certain--these are dangerous people of whom we should beware and seek to thwart when what they
do attempts to undermine civilized society! 

So, as is often asked on or near this day, where were you, and what were you doing, when these events occurred five years ago?  I was in a small town in
Massachusetts, and, on that morning, went to a medical facility to take care of something related to a chronic condition I have.  I believe it was while
I was in the waiting room that someone broke the news of the initial attack, and I seem to recall sharing what I had heard with someone else while taking
care of my matter.  Further discussion followed on the way back to where I was staying, and, of course, there would be much more on the radio and television
throughout the remainder of the day.  Though, as regulars to this house should know, this is not my primary sort of music, I listened that evening to a
little of the syndicated adult-contemporary disc jockey called Dalilah, and she was seeking to be a comfort at the end of that difficult day.  It was gratifying
to me that, in the following days and even months, there was a fair amount of patriotic music on the radio, and one station continued playing the National
Anthem at noon for quite a while.  It is said that tragedies can unify, and this was _CERTAINLY_ the case then. 

Did any of you participate in one of the several America Supports You Freedom Walks held throughout the country yesterday?  Ours here in Washington was
the second such, and I had the privilege and pleasure of walking in them both.  This year's was, in virtually all respects, the exact opposite of last
year's.  Last year's went from the Pentagon to the western part of the Mall in the morning while this year's went from the western edge of the Washington
Monument Grounds to the Pentagon in the evening.  Last year's ended with a concert by a country-music singer whose name I forget, and this year's began
with country music from the Navy's country-music unit, Country Current.  I arrived on the grounds close to 5:30 p.m., and a nice woman, whose husband is
a World-War-II Marine Veteran, accompanied me into the front area where, in due course, she connected me with a volunteer who would remain with me for
the rest of the evening.  She, with help from some of her colleagues, was able to get me in touch with a contingent from the PGA who I was told would be
there, and one of them gave me his business card which hopefully will result in golf-related things for me down the road.  During the walk itself, among
others, I was privileged to meet a couple of Air Force officers, one of them a recently-retired general, who both know a major general I met at last year's
Navy/Air-Force football game in Annapolis.  There was also, surprisingly yet gratifyingly to me, a group from a Washington school, and hopefully those
youngsters were able to appreciate and be moved by that in which they were participating.  All seemed to be enjoying themselves despite the at-least-partial
solemnity of the occasion.  Yet, in addition to the 9-11 Anniversary tributes, and though not much was said about it last night, we were presumably also
celebrating and saluting those who now wear the Uniform, which, after all, is the primary focus of America Supports You.  The Navy Band was playing when
we reached the Pentagon, and, when all were assembled, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Hon. Gordon England, spoke briefly on behalf of Secretary Rumsfeld,
Joint Chiefs Chairman, General Pace, having well spoken before the walk.  Then Miss Denise (or Denis?) Graves, a fine American opera and concert singer
in my opinion and one who is often heard at events such as this, gave us three songs with guitar accompaniment, "America The Beautiful," "An American Anthem"
(which, as you may recall, she also sang at President Bush's second inauguration), and, after lights were lit honouring those who died in the Pentagon
on 9-11, "God Bless America."  After this, tours were offered of the Memorial Room and Chapel in the reconstructed section of the building where the plane
had struck, but I had already toured these with the general public the previous day.  Yet, since we were moved through quickly out of consideration for
those still waiting, I was not able to experience as much as I might have personally wished, including anything that could have been touched. 

I also wish the families of those who died that day as fine a day as they possibly can have, and further, as usual, wish visitors to this house well. 

Respectfully submitted, 

J. V.