Today, as you all know, was veterans day. And, in Houston, we have a humdinger of a parade. I left at 12:25, the parade started at 11:30, and the sucker was still in full force.
There were lots of old cars and I took bunches of photos with my camera phone. They turned out pretty good for a camera phone, they were all nice an clear. It’s a small phone, so enlarging the photo doesn’t look all that great, but if you look at it in 4×6 mode, looks good.
The absolute highlight for me happened before the parade even begun. I went downstairs about 10 minutes early. I wanted to get a spot on a ledge that’s elevated just enough so that I could watch the parade over the heads of the people near the street.
All of a sudden I noticed a wirey older man who appeared about 85 years old. I looked at his hat and it read “Hellcat” and then had his aircraft carrier, of which I didn’t notice. “Hellcat” is nothing other than the F6F Fighter airplane used in the 2nd half of WWII in the pacific theater.
I said loud enough for him to hear me… “Hellcat! Are you a Hellcat fighter pilot?!?” He looked at me startled like, probably wondering how the heck this young woman knew about Hellcats, “Yes”. I said, “That is so Cool. I would like to shake your hand and thank you for your sacrifice!!” I then stuck out my hand and shook his hand. He gave me a good shake, not too firm and not too loosey-goosey He said “You’re Welcome”. Then, as he was walking away he said, “You gotta understand, I was scared to death!” to which I said, “No doubt, but you did it anyway and came out the other side” then I wished him good day and he was gone. I should have gotten his autograph. Next year, I am going to be prepared with a sharpie and paper for signing.
I’m in hog heaven… This is like like the top of the top of things that could happen. I had a serious case of hero worship. I couldn’t stop grinning for the whole afternoon… Woo-Wee… a Hellcat fighter pilot. He was likely an Ace. I’m totally and completely elated! I mean, here I am, a WWII nut & one of the best of the best fighter pilots of the Pacific Theater and entire WWII walks by and I get to shake his hand. It’s darned near close to shaking the presidents hand!!
And then, there were a bunch of Veterans, Marching Bands, ROTC marchers and vintage Automobiles, Tanks, Jeeps & Trucks. I’ll stop rattling along and let you see the show… they’re below.
Fizz
© ‘Fizz’ 2010
Michigan Dreaming --> Texas Tortured 
I’ve always had a fascination with the Vietnam War in particular but almost all my friends now who are veterans have been involved with the latest war in Iraq. I don’t know that I’ll ever get used to veterans that are younger than me that have seen combat. I’ve known some of these guys since they were just baby’s and now they’re soldiers. Well, glad you had an experience like that Juli, how cool is that?
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The last air show I saw at Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach would have really had you going. The Confederate Air Force does a re-enactment of a WWII air raid complete with vintage aircraft, Japanese and US, and ground pyrotechnics rigged by one of the local EOD Teams. They also put on a Heritage Flight with an F4U, F6F, F-14 and F-18 flying in formation. Very impressive!
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I love your enthusiasm! I get that way too sometimes & people think I’m a nut. I am so glad he understood your respect manifested itself with your being effusive.
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