This is in honor of my brother Rich. As a young child he knew he was going to be a pilot. He worked hard for this goal, and was awarded an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy from Congressman Sam Gibbons. Graduating in 1972 he achieved his childhood dream by becoming a pilot in the United States Air Force. After many years he left the Air Force but continued flying. He became a commercial pilot and is now retired from Fed Ex. My brother taught me that no dream is too big . He set an example of courage and commitment for me to try and follow and for that I'm grateful. He is everything a big brother could and should be.

"Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds -
and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of -
wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlit silence.
Hovering there I've chased the shouting wind along
and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air.
"Up, up the long delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace,
where never lark, or even eagle, flew;
and, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
the high untrespassed sanctity of space,
put out my hand and touched the face of God."