This was relayed to the Tunnel Wall by former high school classmates. It is the account as written to them, unedited. TD
Good
friends of ours from here in Elizabethtown, KY just got back home from a visit
to the Air Force Academy, in Colorado Springs where they attended the
commencement exercises of the graduating class of 2013. In fact John's
grandson was one of the graduates and John, being a retired US Army officer was
able to swear in his grandson as a brand spanking new US Air Force
2Lt.
What
an honor that must have been for John and his family, but that's not the real
story nor is it the historic significance of the 2013 commencement
celebration. You see 2013 is the first Air Force graduation on record
that has occurred under a Sequester created by a non functioning Congress and
an unyielding Obama Administration. Due to operating under this Sequester
the ceremonies proceeded as follows:
President
Obama regretfully declined the kind invitation of the Commandant of the Air
Force Academy to be speak to the graduates and their families on the occasion
of their graduation saying he was committed to addressing the graduates at West
Point. Instead it was established that Vice President Biden was free and
he would come to Colorado Springs. And, as to the request for the usual
fly-over by the US Air Force Thunderbirds that was declined again due to the
Sequester.
After
consultation with his chain of command the Commandant of the Air Force Academy
notified the White House that due to the Sequester cancelling the traditional
fly-over of the Thunderbirds that he was confident that the nation didn't need
the added $1 million + expense to fly Air Force 2, of any configuration or
model, and the added expense of the Secret Service and their entourage required
when the Vice President traveled. So just cancel the initial request for
a speaker from the White House for the commencement.
So
the commencement went off as planned sans representation from the Obama
Administration. It looked like this:
The
featured speaker was an Under Secretary of the Air Force, who is a decorated
Viet Nam veteran. The Secretary flew back and forth from Andrews AFB to
Peterson AFB In Colorado Springs on routine training flight conducted by the
Air Force thus costing the American tax payers nothing.
John
tells me that there were nearly as many Air Force General Officers in
attendance as there were family members. He thinks a dozen or more 4 Star
General, three or four times as many 2 and 3 Stars an untold number of 1 Star
Generals. And, of course countless Colonels and below.
Most
of these officers were themselves alumni of the Air Force Academy and wanted
nothing less than to present a perfect program for the graduating class.
Since the Congress and the Obama Administration could not see fit to allow for
a fly-over by the Thunderbirds, a number of the senior generals took matters
into their own hands. And so, when the speeches, the hats were all thrown
into the air, and all the family hugs were all made and it became time for the
fly-over a roar of engines was detected from the West of the air strip and
parade grounds there at the facility and everyone was treated to a fly-over by
the Confederate Air Force. Looking up they saw all kinds of vintage
aircraft from B-17s B-24s, B-25s, P-38s, P-51s and others all represented by
manufactures such Corsairs, Grumman, Lockheed and Boeing who still provide
parts availability for these aircraft, and flown by our hero's from prior
conflicts that still see fit to stay active for services such as this. It
was a wonderful experience for all who were there.
I
am sure you will join me in offering a salute to these serving officers who saw
fit not to rob the 2013 graduating class of their day of celebration, and to
our hero's who flew the planes for this worthy occasion and oh yes to the many
private donors who pitched in and covered the expenses involved in bringing
these aircraft in to Colorado Springs from various locations across the
country.
LADIES
AND GENTLEMEN, WE SALUTE YOU