Foil: 14 Panel: Retired United Pilots Association Column: 4 Line: 27

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Mr. Charles H. Lane

TO ALVIN MENTING, SFOFO
UAL YEARS: 1951-1983

Life for a boy raised on a farm
Meant lots of work, tho it had its own charm.
There were chores enough for all to share,
And Al's delight was the machinery to repair.
He tinkered and hammered, studied and learned
And soon for the Navy Air Force he yearned.

When his stint was over, he took his skill
To United Airlines with lots of good will.
First as a mechanic and then, happy to relate
He was made pilot of a DC-8.
Surrounded in the cockpit by instruments galore,
He ascended into our friendly skies;
His panel to explore.

He flew all over our lovely land
Above the highest mountains and lonely desert sand.
Embraced by his four children and lovely wife,
We wished him all the joy and fun
That's possible in life.
His thoughtfulness of others was something very rare,
Perhaps it was because of time spent
above us in the air.

And then in our Bicentennial year
If "you listen my children you shall hear,"
On the 5th day of March, another
Important event did shine,
Al celebrated twenty-five years with United Airlines.
Seven years, nine months later we had to say,
Congratulations and Love and many Blessings from above.
In your 747 the stripes of blue retired in gold
And our love for you has not grown old!