New Jersey Baby Boomer

It was such a treat to attend the very first air show not far from our home at the Greenwood Lake Airport here in my home town, West Milford, New Jersey.  I have always loved air shows…we’ve traveled miles and stayed over night in hotels to visit some, so having one so close by was an extra blessing. 

We were there on Saturday, September 26, 2009, and probably the best day as it rained and was very overcast on Sunday.  This is an airport that we brought our children to when they were young to watch the small planes take off.  Now they are adults…it’s also a place we occasionally visit for a weekend lunch at their restaurant.  Always so quiet and peaceful, nestled in an area surrounded by trees, but last Saturday, the crowds were amazing to see.  Parking was up in the parking lot for the old Jungle Habitat, and was handled with great efficiency by our local police dept. and what I believe were members of a unit of the air national guard…correct me in comment if you happen to stop by and read this and I’m wrong.

I have always loved planes, this going back I’m sure to having a grandfather who was a Navy man and a retired US Air Force Captain.  Then there was my own Dad who was an electrical engineer all of his working years in the aeronautics division of a large company…designing parts for planes, including an invention or two, as well as designing parts for the space program when that became important to our Nation.  So I guess you could say it’s in my blood.  The funny part is that I prefer my feet to be on the ground, not in a plane…but there’s no greater sound to me than the rush of a powerful military jet flying low overhead, and nothing more fun than watching extremely skilled pilots make smaller sized planes do things I never imagined possible. 

I’m including a couple pictures here, and plan to devote some more time, pictures and detail to the air show through another venue soon, I’ll link to it here when it’s done.  You’ll also want to visit http://www.greenwoodlakeairshow.com - I hope this is the first of what will become an annual event.

Just noticed that my son added some pictures to his facebook page, stop by and take a look, he’s a better photographer than I am.

We just got home from our local commemoration of this great day in the center of our town of West Milford at our war memorial. I am sure, at least hope, this is being repeated in many towns across the USA. Sitting in front of me was a frail but wonderful WWII Veteran. Sitting front and center were 2 families of our most recent casualties…I don’t like that word, I mean our most recent heroes to give their lives in Iraq. It was special to simply be able to shake a hand, give a hug to a tearful family member, to say “thank you” knowing that there were no words that could take away the pain. We thank those who have served our Nation and paid the ultimate price. Also remembered were local heroes who died in the attack on 911, names that many know nationwide from our area, like Father Mychael F. Judge who left our local catholic church to be a Chaplain for the NY City Fire Department, the image of his body being carried from the World Trade Center ruins now impressed in the minds of many, among the first if not the first victim we heard about after the attack. And Jeremy Glick, a hero of United Airlines Flight 93. So many more names that we must never forget. My son took a few pictures, one shown above.

Now, what has become my favorite patriotic song with wonderful images to stir the heart to remember, and thank you not just to NJ heroes, but all of our heroes all over the USA:

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

As a boomer, I remember well the draft during the Viet Nam war. I remember that when friends were drafted, they usually went to Fort Dix in south Jersey. Fort Dix has a great history dating back to the early 1900’s, you can go to their website and read the history here. They are now a training and mobilization center for the Army Reserve and National Guard.

It is the largest military base in NJ, and one of the largest if not the largest on the East Coast. Coming up the last weekend of May into June is the 2008 Air Show & Expo, I love air shows and we have been to this one. It take place at McGuire AFB very close by. There is nothing like the powerful sound of those military jets when they fly by, excellent!