|
Remembering President Reagan
I remember 20 January 1981, Ronald Reagan
took the oath of office and was sworn in as the 40th President of the United
States of America.
The Government Chartered Flying Tiger
Airline jet had just gone wheels up from Philadelphia. I was watching the
city slip slowly from view through the cold gray haze of that January
afternoon. As the Captain came over the PA offering a welcome aboard, it
occurred to me that this business was normally conducted near the end of the
climb or nearing cruising altitude. There were nearly 300 or so uniformed
service personnel of all ranks along with some spouses and dependent
children onboard. The Captain announced, “Ronald Reagan has just been sworn
in as President of the United States and the Iran hostages have been
released.”
The plane erupted with shouts of
jubilation and relief. The roar in the passenger section (there was no First
Class or Business section) had barely died when the Captain added “and the
first round of drinks are on the Captain”. A second roar of jubilation, and
relief arose. We flew from daylight through darkness and saw the sun rise as
we neared the west coast of Spain. Rota Spain was but a stopover to fuel and
disembark passengers before continuing to Naples Italy, my destination.
I was a 24-year-old Navy Seaman en-route
to my first sea command, USS Farragut DDG-37. I had been in the Navy just
over a year and was eager to report aboard. I had no way of knowing that
President Reagan’s Presidency would so positively impact the world. Born a
late Baby-Boomer, raised fearing communism during the Nuclear age and
originally trained as a Cold War sailor, I never imagined the Soviet Union
would dissolve and the Iron Curtain would fall during my lifetime. That
flight and Inauguration happened almost 24 years ago. I served 23 years in a
Navy made stronger by his steady hand at the helm.
I plan to watch the memorial service on
television this week. If able I’d travel to Washington to pay respects to my
former COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, if only to stand at attention along the avenue as
his final motorcade passed by. I’m proud I was able to serve our country
under this noble mans leadership. Goodbye and God bless you Mr. President.
PS Please say hello to Bob Hope for all
of us.
Most Respectfully
 |
2005
- 2009 MWSA