Memorial Day 2021

Memorial Day is a Federal Holiday observed on the last Monday in May.  Today we honor and mourn the military personnel who have died in the performance of their military duties.  For the Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing this is a special day as it aligns with our mission: To Educate, Inspire,  and Honor Through Flight and Living History Experiences.

We are blessed with outstanding volunteers who help run the museum, keep the aircraft in tip-top condition, and execute on our mission.  Today, we are happy to post a special edition of our members newsletter named Flight Line, thanks to Dave Flood and Casey de Bree.

Flight Line           

Special Edition

Memorial Day,

May 31, 2021

Lest We Forget

Omaha Beach, Normandy, France

June 6, 1944

Lest We Forget

United States Cemetery, Lorraine, France

“In Flanders Fields”

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow,

Between the crosses, row on row

That mark our place.

And in the sky,

The larks, still bravely singing, fly,

Scarce heard among the guns below.

We are the dead,

Short days ago we lived,

Felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved, and were loved,

And now…we lie in Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe!

To you, with failing hands,

We throw the torch.

Be yours to hold it high!

If you break faith with us who die,

We shall not sleep,

Though poppies grow,

In Flanders Fields.

~John McCrae

Lest We Forget

Iwo Jima

February 23, 1945

Lest We Forget

Burial at sea, USS Liscome Bay, 1943

Lest We Forget

Raid on Ploesti, Romania Oil Refineries, August 1, 1943

Lest We Forget

MASH Unit, Korean War – 1^st Marine Division

Lest We Forget

HU-1D Helicopter, Strike Force – Vietnam

Lest We Forget

American Troops Clearing Area

Warnak Province, Afghanistan

“For The Fallen”

“They went with songs to the battle,

They were young.

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady

and aglow. 

They were staunch to the end,

Against odds uncounted;

They fell with their faces to the foe. 

They shall grow not old, as we

That are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor

the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun,

And in the morning

We will remember them.”

~Laurence Binyon

Arlington National Cemetery, with the

Capitol in the distance.

Bob Burtness playing “Taps” for Bugles Across America at a veteran’s memorial service.

This Memorial Day – Fly Your Flag Proudly

And Remember…