?»?Michael Monte was a member of the Flying Farmers in Hartford (now Mt Laurel), New Jersey. He joined APOA in the mid-1940s. He often took his sweetheart (and then later wife) Mary Davison on plane rides over their farm and the surrounding countryside. In later years after Michael's death, Mary would talk fondly of those times, and she continued her interest in flying by joining her son-in-law Carl Mikuletzky (also on the NASM's Wall of Honor) and daughter Shirley on trips to NC in their plane. In addition, the Monte family has always enjoyed travel, especially by plane. Family trips to Mexico, the Caribbean, Kenya, Egypt, and Australia are but a few of the ones that were taken while our parents were alive. Daughter Judy has been to over 100 countries and still counting, while daughters Diann, Debbie, and Shirley continue to add countries to their list. Now that are parents are gone (2000 and 2007), we like to think that their early days of flight and the great enjoyment they encountered were perhaps responsible for our continued wonderlust and need for adventure. Thank you Dad and Mom. Written by Judith Monte, Sep 2010 [The photo, taken on the Monte farm, is of Michael and Mary when they were first dating, around 1945/46.]