My Father, Jose Gallegos, immigrated to the United States of America, to have a better life. To dream big. His story is not unlike countless others.

I choose to honor him, because he gave my dreams flight. As a child, growing up in Southern California in the 1980's, I remember hearing the sonic booms of the Space Shuttle, as it would approach Edwards Air Force Base. I remember being a young child, my dad, occasionally taking me to his steel factory, and along the way we would pass the Rockwell Plant, on the lawn an Apollo Command Module proudly on display. Him commenting on the fact that it was here that the machines were built that first took men to the stars. I remember him supporting my interest in space exploration, buying me my first telescope, taking me to the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.

Our house was always filled with books. One book that always called to me was a story of explorers. On the back cover was the image of Ed White taking his first space walk. This book covered Magellan, Columbus, Drake, and Collins, Aldrin and Armstrong. I would read, and re-read the adventures of these amazing people.

I'm not sure my father realized it or not, but because of the books we had in the house, I ended up living in the past. Most of the books we had came from the Salvation Army or the public library. Many were older, but I remember reading about rocketry, aerodynamics, and aviation physiology, from texts from the 50's, and 60's. It was awesome! I grew up as kid, with the Mercury 7 as my heroes. The Redstones, and Atlas rockets although long retired, lived in those books.

Years later, thanks to the support of my mother and father, the son of immigrants, has the honor of traveling through the clouds, piloting some of the machines I used to read about as a kid. I have met some of the people I read about in those books. Astronauts, Senators, and the amazing people that serve in our nations military.

My father has a son, who is thankful everyday to him for helping achieve the dream of flight.

With Love,
Captain Joseph Gallegos