ready2fly
Well-Known Member
THIS is what it\'s all about!!
So, I'm sitting behind the desk at TPF yesterday, like I do every Sunday, only yesterday was different in that we had 9 kids from a local high school visiting for introductory flights. Seems their teacher is an instructor and he started the "MacDill Aeronautical Academy" through the high school for kids who were interested in aviation. An individual sponsor put up $60/each for 16 kids to take the flights. 9 of the 16 showed up.
One of the 9 was a boy by the name Joshua. Joshua was, by far, the shortest and most enthusiastic of the group. He couldn't have been more than 13 or 14.
I had been talking with Joshua about how his flight went and he was beside himelf. I thought, with this kids enthusiasm, it couldn't get any better. I was wrong.
Just after Joshua walked away, a gentleman by the name of Henry Bohler walked in. Henry was a WWII P-51 pilot.
So, I summoned Joshua and the rest played out something like this:
Me: Joshua, have you ever heard of the "Tuskeegee Airmen?"
Joshua: Yes. One of them came to my school last year. It was cool.
<Mr. Bohler walks up behind Joshua>
Me: Well, turn around. Joshua, meet Henry Bohler.
Joshua's eyes got as big as suacers and his mouth dropped open in this HUGE awe-struck smile - his face got flush and he said:
Joshua: HI!! Do you remember me??????
Mr. Bohler: I do. <you could tell he didn't. He speaks a many, many schools, but he played along> You were at......
Joshua: ROBINSON!!! You came to my class last year in October!!
Mr. Bohler: Oh yes! I remember meeting you.
<silence>
Joshua just stood there looking up at Mr. Bohler with that same awe-struck expression. Mr. Bohler just let him stand there.....
Finally, Joshua said "Nice meeting you, sir!" and shook Mr. Bohler's hand and - RAN over to where his mother was yelling "didyouseewhoIjustmet??It'sHenryBolher!!He'saTuskeegeeAirman!!!"
Priceless!!
So, I'm sitting behind the desk at TPF yesterday, like I do every Sunday, only yesterday was different in that we had 9 kids from a local high school visiting for introductory flights. Seems their teacher is an instructor and he started the "MacDill Aeronautical Academy" through the high school for kids who were interested in aviation. An individual sponsor put up $60/each for 16 kids to take the flights. 9 of the 16 showed up.
One of the 9 was a boy by the name Joshua. Joshua was, by far, the shortest and most enthusiastic of the group. He couldn't have been more than 13 or 14.
I had been talking with Joshua about how his flight went and he was beside himelf. I thought, with this kids enthusiasm, it couldn't get any better. I was wrong.
Just after Joshua walked away, a gentleman by the name of Henry Bohler walked in. Henry was a WWII P-51 pilot.
So, I summoned Joshua and the rest played out something like this:
Me: Joshua, have you ever heard of the "Tuskeegee Airmen?"
Joshua: Yes. One of them came to my school last year. It was cool.
<Mr. Bohler walks up behind Joshua>
Me: Well, turn around. Joshua, meet Henry Bohler.
Joshua's eyes got as big as suacers and his mouth dropped open in this HUGE awe-struck smile - his face got flush and he said:
Joshua: HI!! Do you remember me??????
Mr. Bohler: I do. <you could tell he didn't. He speaks a many, many schools, but he played along> You were at......
Joshua: ROBINSON!!! You came to my class last year in October!!
Mr. Bohler: Oh yes! I remember meeting you.
<silence>
Joshua just stood there looking up at Mr. Bohler with that same awe-struck expression. Mr. Bohler just let him stand there.....
Finally, Joshua said "Nice meeting you, sir!" and shook Mr. Bohler's hand and - RAN over to where his mother was yelling "didyouseewhoIjustmet??It'sHenryBolher!!He'saTuskeegeeAirman!!!"
Priceless!!