Courtyard of Heroes

The proceedings were conducted in the Courtyard of Heroes. While there are plaques highlighting military bravery mingled among the courtyard’s trees and plants it is the scars on the walls that bring home the reality of heroism. The building surrounding the courtyard was, in 1941, a barracks, the home to American Air Corps enlisted men on Oahu. The deep ballistic wounds that gash the concrete are the remnants of that December Sunday that lives on in infamy. Many young men died here. This is hallowed ground.
This day was not set aside to honor the death of a man but the worthy conclusion of a 27 year military career. Dan Ciufo accumulated almost three decades of service in the Marines and then the Air Force. His numerous and remarkable accomplishments were reviewed. He, his lovely wife Daphne and their equally lovely daughters Leah and Anna were all thoroughly and properly honored. Dan and his family are the Christian’s Christian.
In an era when political correctness permeates all aspects of the American Government it was pleasantly shocking to repeatedly hear the title of God and the name of Jesus invoked during Dan’s retirement ceremony. Why is Jesus important to many in the United States military? The answer was long ago etched into those walls by Japanese bullets and bombs. Our military understands what we civilians fail to grasp: The integrity of a nation or the Kingdom of God is insured by sacrifice. Our military understands and appreciates sacrifice and so it is that they understand and appreciate our Lord. They get it. Dan and his precious ladies get it. May we be as wise!

Dan, thank you for your service to our God and to our country. Daphne, Anna, and Leah thank you for sharing this fine man with us.If the good people of Woodlands, Texas have an ounce of wit among them they will grab hold of this family, hug them and encourage them in all things godly. Should you tire of the Ciufo family send them back home to paradise!

We bought an air ship!

Yes! We finally did it! The deal was done on line and the aircraft was delivered by, what else, air mail. You are correct in assuming this is not a full size human carrying contraption. This is an inexpensive “easy to fly”(so much for truth in advertising) remote control trainer. We knew we were in trouble when the accompanying DVD containing the instructions for building and flying this winged wonder were entirely in Chinese. (This they drop on a family who has accumulated perhaps 6 semesters of Spanish to complete Spanish II.) Apparently, we have an affinity for the language (all those fortune cookies, no doubt) and the fancy plane came together.
It came with landing gear. LANDING GEAR! NOT TAKE OFF GEAR! Trust us on this one, there is a difference. The one Chinese phrase we did not translate was the warning to be sure to hand launch said aircraft. Attempted take-offs from mother earth resulted in collisions with trees, shrubs, curbs, and a truck (not moving). To hit a moving vehicle or person will take a bit more practice.
We have taken the Terry version of the Predator out twice. Yes it has been airborne – sometimes for extended periods of close to ten seconds. We now know that birds can and do laugh – it’s sort of a mocking sound. Happily, it is a rugged craft and has survived several unique perpendicular “landings” with minor dings. What have we learned so far? While it is far more expensive it is also far easier to fly a real aircraft.