And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Dad knew Eddie Rickenbacker when Eddie was president of Eastern Airlines. We still have a set of glasses he gave my Dad commemorating the first flight of the Connie.
A childhood visit (1953-1954) to the Smithsonian Institute was for the sole purpose of seeing Captain Eddie's Spad. Ditching in the Pacific during WWII, the story of 3 weeks adrift, "Seven Came Through" is an outstanding read. Arguably an even more meaningful story in view of today's news. Captain Eddie's single life was one of multiple achievements of extraordinary scale.
He also raced cars for several years before WW I including the inaugural (1911) Indy 500 and later owned the track. My father worked for him at Eastern and knew him fairly well. At about 10 I was very focused on WW I planes, and could not find his book "Fighting The Flying Circus". He heard that, and very shortly I received an copy autographed to me. Hell of a guy.
One of my favorite Ohioans! MOH winner during WW1, check out the seagull story during WW2!
ReplyDeleteDad knew Eddie Rickenbacker when Eddie was president of Eastern Airlines. We still have a set of glasses he gave my Dad commemorating the first flight of the Connie.
ReplyDeleteA childhood visit (1953-1954) to the Smithsonian Institute was for the sole purpose of seeing Captain Eddie's Spad. Ditching in the Pacific during WWII, the story of 3 weeks adrift, "Seven Came Through" is an outstanding read. Arguably an even more meaningful story in view of today's news. Captain Eddie's single life was one of multiple achievements of extraordinary scale.
ReplyDeleteThose ants look like people down there!
ReplyDeleteHe also raced cars for several years before WW I including the inaugural (1911) Indy 500 and later owned the track. My father worked for him at Eastern and knew him fairly well. At about 10 I was very focused on WW I planes, and could not find his book "Fighting The Flying Circus". He heard that, and very shortly I received an copy autographed to me. Hell of a guy.
ReplyDelete