Mark is an Academy grad
and he says this is true.
FANTASTIC!!!!
Way to go AIR FORCE!
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 Adm inistration.
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.
It appeared
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
DR. KARL WALLACE D.D.S.
