Soft Wings

June 21, 2012. I should have written about this day while it was fresh in my mind. At approximately 11:30 in the afternoon, Jesse completed his final flight in the T-45 training jet. Three long years of flight school came to an end as he touched down one last time. I can't really remember the last time I felt taht excited and overwhelmed all at once. His entire military career has been spent training to do something, and in a split second, it was all over. I had the privilege of being on the flight line as he landed, fire hose in hand, to spray him down in traditional fashion. IP Doc Phil handed me a fresh name patch complete with golden wings to slap onto Jesse's flight suit. To say I was proud seems like an understatement. So much hard work and dedication finally paid off. Next stop, official wings of gold!