Angel Flight

Although I never got up in the air, unbelievably, I did spend four years in the U.S. Air Force. This video had many emotions jumping to the surface of my awareness. Pride in these air crews, the air traffic controllers that guide them, and the men and women on the ground, even today, fighting in the hope of helping parts of our world to become better places. 

Still, it all begs the question in this old guy's heart:  is it all really worth it?

With that question floating out there, grab a tissue, if you're at all an emotional sap like me, and watch this outstanding four-minute video. 

Sad Homecoming

Two evenings ago, I had the privilege to help welcome home a young man for the final time. Air Force SSgt Joe Weems, a 2005 graduate of our local high school, was killed near Ramstein Air Base in Germany in a very unfortunate accident just days before he was to return home and reenter civilian life. He had served six years and was about to receive his honorable discharge.

We were glad to be among the couple hundred folks lining the street as the procession of Sheriff deputies, fire trucks, the hearse carrying his flag-draped coffin, and the limos bearing his family members entered the funeral home parking lot, having just transported his body from the airport. It was certainly gratifying to see the good turnout of citizens and the way the township and county honored the fallen airman.

SSgt Weems wasn't killed as a result of enemy action. He did, however, serve his country well during his six-year enlistment. He deserved every bit of respect we could offer; I'm certain his family appreciated the support of so many neighbors during this time of unimaginable grief.

Rest in peace, Airman; thank you for your service.


Read the full story here. 

                                                                                              WOOD-TV photo

School Days

After graduating Lutheran High East in 1965, I spent a couple summer months “proving myself” at Concordia College (now University) in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They weren’t sure a guy with perfectly average high school grades could cut it in college, so I had to take a summer course to show I could handle it. Mission accomplished, thankfully.



Concordia University, Ann Arbor, MI

As it works out, I only completed one year at Concordia, due to a change in direction rather than poor grades. Originally, I had it in my mind to enter the teaching profession. After learning more about what that entailed, I felt it was not the right career path for me to follow. Unfortunately, as is the case with so many 18-year-olds, I had no idea what direction I wanted to head. I enrolled in the Business Administration curriculum at Macomb County Community College in Warren and moved back in with my parents.

Macomb County Community College

A part-time job at Simco Pattern Co. helped pay the school bills while I helped build dies for the auto industry. The time at Macomb CC was good, but being this was 1966-67 the draft for the Vietnam War kept nipping close at my heels. During this period I was married, but that didn’t help my deferment status either.  So, having no desire to take the “walking tour” of Vietnamese jungles, I signed up for a four-year stint in the U.S. Air Force and entered active duty in March of 1968.

The Air Force years will be discussed in another entry, but suffice it to say that the time spent there qualified me for the G.I. Bill, which would help tremendously with educational expenses after my discharge in December 1971. Actually, the G.I. Bill payments for attending school amounted to very decent income which I used to enroll at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. Ah, but the lure of making more money pulled me away from school after just one semester, regretfully.

Oakland University

I didn’t return to college until after moving to the west side of Michigan in search of work. In 1975, I began my employment with Dykema Office Supply in Kalamazoo, moved to Allegan soon after and then enrolled at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, where I spent two years in part-time general study.

Kalamazoo Valley Community College

This disjointed ramble from one school to another didn’t qualify me for an actual degree, but fortunately the jobs I’ve held did not require a “sheepskin”. Looking back, I enjoyed the various schools and programs, but I do regret not having put together a well-planned journey that would have resulted in a formal degree.