Wharf Rat's Home - A Shipmate Who Never Made it to Sea.

'It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.'

Preserving a piece of US Maritime History - invaluable

The USS Olympia is a cruiser that fought in the Spanish American War in 1898 and has been preserved in Philadelphia. She's a one of a kind ship, a national historic monument, and in danger. She needs approximately $10-15 million in repairs to keep her a viable museum for years to come. If you have the resources, or connections to those resources, please consider helping. (full disclosure - there is no financial benefit to me to ask the question - we need to save this ship for posterity). Please contact me at 612-599-1935 or bdskon@fedex.com if you have additional questions.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Blue Angels close season with Pensacola show - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Blue Angels close season with Pensacola show - Navy News News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

“That is so neat!” William Murrah yelled as he watched through binoculars as an A-10 and P-51 flew together in formation before the Blues took to the air.
Murrah, an eye surgeon, said he enjoyed watching the warbirds in the sky.
“I find the old planes thoroughly fascinating,” he said.
Those old war planes are flown by people such as Mike Burke, who considers himself an airplane fanatic.
“People can have their boats and stuff, but we have airplanes,” Burke, 62, of Galveston, Texas, said.
Burke, along with a handful of others, donned jumpsuits to fly old warplanes during the air show.
And it takes a true aeronaut-lover for the job.
Burke was joined by fellow enthusiast Ted Short, 80, a Korean War vet from Fort Worth, Texas.
“I never dreamt I’d be able to touch one or fly in one or just to be able to see one, so I jumped on the chance when I got the opportunity,” Short said. He flew a 1945 SB2C Helldiver twice during the air show.
“When I was a kid, I made models of all these airplanes,” Short said as he gestured toward the lineup of warbirds before they took off. “What’s nice about this is getting to teach people about what these planes are and what they did.”