Thinking of my step-dad today as it is Veterans Day. He served 8 years of active duty in the Air Force as a pilot – served in Germany during the Cold War as a fighter pilot, flying F100 and F4 fighters. After that he served in Vietnam as a Forward Air Controller and was awarded 16 Air Medals and the Distinguish Flying Cross for heroism. After Vietnam he served as a flight instructor for pilots transitioning to single seat fighters such as the F-100 and F-105. After resigning his commission in the USAF he went on to have a long flying career in civil aviation as an international captain until retirement. Some of his friends never made it out of the war. Thinking of them and all the men and women who have (and still fight) to keep our country safe.

Rachel Matos