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Wall of Honor Level: Air and Space Friend
Honored by:
Ms. Kathleen W. Mikkelson
My father, Dr. Vernon Edward Mikkelson, was always quite interested in anything to do with space and aviation. The Smithsonian was one of his favorite museums. He obtained his pilot’s license at the age of 59 and received much pleasure from flying. The poem read at his funeral was by John Gillespie Magee, Jr., who at 19 was shot down over England. In this sonnet, much beloved by my father, Magee wrote of putting out his hand and touching the face of God while flying in his plane.
Wall of Honor profiles are provided by the honoree or the donor who added their name to the Wall of Honor. The Museum cannot validate all facts contained in the profiles.
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