One Last Ride…

Bring a Kleenex…

For all those who didn’t make it back… Aviators or not…

Sadly Colonel Bud Day passed away in July of last year.  A fitting tribute is HERE.

h/t JP

Comments

One Last Ride… — 14 Comments

  1. You couldn’t take the smile off his face with a belt sander…

  2. One of my oldest and dearest friends (also a retired MSgt) lives in Fort Walton Beach. He went to Col. Day’s funeral and sent me this:

    I thought I would honor him by attending his funeral only to find myself honored for the privilege of attending.

    The funeral was held at the Fort Walton Beach Convention Center. In attendance was Senator John McCain, Bud’s cell mate as a prisoner of war in Viet Nam, no less than three other Congressional Medal–of-Honor recipients, numerous POWs, and about 1500 local residents.

    From the Convention Center to Barrancus National Cemetery where he was laid to rest is 47 miles, most of which is a four-lane US Highway 98. The route was lined with men, women and children saluting, waving flags, standing at attention at times in heavy rain without umbrellas; and oncoming traffic was stopped in southern tradition. After passing through the gate to Pensacola Naval Air Station the last half mile was lined on both sides of the road with Coast Guard, Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force, both enlisted men and officers standing shoulder to shoulder at present arms as the entourage passed.

    I have never witnessed or experienced anything like this in my life. Bernice and I did not cry the entire 47 miles but most of it.

    A fitting tribute.

  3. A fitting tribute not only for Col George (Bud) Day, but for all who served.

  4. Frank- You noticed that too! 🙂

    Keads- Wasn’t it though…

    Buck- Yep

    Tim/WSF- True!

  5. Damn. You find all the cool stuff – leave something for the rest of us to blog, OldNFO.

    And the part where his kid talks about the picture they had of him, wow.

  6. Ed- Like riding a bicycle…

    Murph- Yep!

    BP- I didn’t JP did, and yeah, misty here too…

    drjim- VERY few…

  7. Sure do wish the USAF (my service) would get their thumb out and release a Thud.
    Nice Video though and glad to see a Hun in the air.