Pride of the Nation

May 19, 2007

Armed Forces Day. This year I spent it at Plant 42 in Palmdale, California. The event was called "Pride of the Nation - Honoring Generations of Heroes". “Pride of the Nation” is an event that honors our past and present servicemen and women. It is held inside an actual hangar on the Plant 42 premises. Outside the hangar several aircraft were on static display, and a few more flew in for the event. With an F-117 Stealth Fighter, F-18, U-2, UAVs, and an F-16 on the tarmac and T-6 and B-25 fly-overs, the past literally met the future. Inside, the past met the future in the form of high school students meeting military personnel from as far back as WWII.

Being inside the hangar was like taking a step back into aviation history. Tables were set up for the couple of hundred of guests and honorees that turned out. Two walls were decorated with photos and writings representing each branch of service. Providing entertainment for the event was the Antelope Valley Jazz Ensemble big band, under the direction of Lee Matalon. With the big band playing several tunes from the era, if you closed your eyes, you could easily believe you were back in 1942. During the band’s rendition of the ballad “Georgia”, aptly sung by Beverly Jensen, the B-25 “Mitchell” roared overhead drowning out the band and leading several guests outside to watch the landing.

Back outside the hangar, old warbirds flew in announcing their arrival with the thunderous, deep-throated growl of their radial engines. Some WWII aircraft were actually built inside that very hangar. The nation’s first jet-powered aircraft, the P-59 Airacomet, lived here, too. Dating all the way back to 1935, Plant 42 itself has a long and storied history, producing the Century Series fighters, the Space Shuttle, the SR-71 Blackbird (one of which is on permanent display at Blackbird Airpark right outside), the XB-70 Valkyrie, B-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit, and on and on.

The B-25 that flew in for the event was built in 1944 and has its own history. It was one of the last B-25 “Mitchell” bombers built for the military. Many people lovingly restored the old warbird in painstaking detail from its original olive drab paint scheme all the way to the nose art that reads “Heavenly Body”. Since 1974 it’s been used mainly for airshows and films. (I could write a whole article on this bird, complete with a photo of it from a past airshow but that’s for another day.)

The event got underway with the presentation of colors. Following that, the Pledge of Allegiance was spoken, the National Anthem sung, and invocation was given. Dinner followed opening announcements and intros.

Shortly after dinner, as the sun began to set, the B-25 and the four T-6’s made their departure. Most of the guests stepped outside, braving the famous high desert winds to catch a glimpse of airborne history. A fire in nearby Gorman poured smoke into the sky turning it a burnt orange, slightly obscuring the sun. “Heavenly Body” took off and banked northward. Silhouetted against the sunset it looked for all the world like it had just completed as successful bombing run. She returned moments later for several low-altitude fly-bys.

Following the departure the guests returned to their seats. This is when the most touching part of the tribute began. Two trumpet players from the band stationed themselves at opposite ends of the room. One began playing “Taps”, echoed by the second trumpeter. Complete silence filled the room until the last note trailed off.

A special table had been prepared with a nice white tablecloth, silverware, crystal glasses and a lighted candle. No guests were allowed to sit there. From the back of the room, the Color Guard appeared, each member holding a china plate. An announcer called each branch of service and invited them to the table. As each branch was called, a member of the Color Guard would advance to the table and slowly place the plate on the table. It was difficult to keep one’s composure while witnessing this.

Next, interviews with past and present military personnel were shown on a video. This was followed the presentation of gifts for all other current and former service people in attendance. Each branch of service was called starting with the Coast Guard, the Army, Navy, Marines, and finally, the Air Force. The band played the song of each branch of service. One by one, the guests walked across the stage and were presented with a medallion, which was carefully hung around their neck by students of Lancaster High School. Young service people came up fresh from Iraq. Old service people who flew bombers in WWII came up. Everyone in between came up. WASPS, the women pilots from WWII came up. Wheelchair-bound and cane-dependent came up. Each was greeted by the students. Many hugs were exchanged. One can only image the feelings shared in the few seconds of their embrace. By meeting those who served in person, one can only image how the lives of the students were changed. The procession of honorees was long and at times tearful. But everyone who served was recognized.

Once the guests were awarded all of their gifts, the program moved to the next phase. Some left, but many stayed to cut a rug as they struck up the AV Jazz Ensemble once again. Not only did the students interact with the honorees while presenting them their medallions, they even danced with them. A nice way to end the program.

If the servicemen and women who gave their lives for this country could see the tribute given them during “Pride of the Nation”, I’m sure they’d give a smile and say “thanks for the recognition, thanks for not forgetting us.” Did I mention the entire event was put on entirely by the students of Lancaster High School? Congratulations and many kudos to the students of Lancaster High Class of '08 and especially to Jamie Goodreau and Alfredo Garcia for a job well done.