Freedom Tower - raleighparks.org

My youngest daughter describes a warmness she feels in her heart in the days leading up to visits with family. That’s a similar feeling I experience every time I stand, hand over my heart, for the national anthem at a sporting event, watch a video of a military parent surprising their family with an early homecoming, or listen to Lee Greenwood’s “I’m Proud to be an American” song. Maybe my strong patriotism comes from having vivid 5th grade memories of writing to Desert Storm troops (I still have those letters). Or, maybe it’s a character trait passed down from my grandmother (the most pride-filled patriot I knew) and my dad and grandfather, who both served in the military. Whether it’s more nurture or nature, I’m thankful for all the biological and life experiences that give me such American pride.

Last year on Veterans Day I brought my girls to the Veterans Freedom Park in Cary, NC. I’ve passed by this park dozens of times over the years and finally visited last year. Veterans Freedom Park is located at 1517 N Harrison Ave in Cary. It contains a 90-foot Freedom Tower spire in the middle of a circular path with the five seals of the US armed forces and benches for reflection. Before walking around the tower we slowly walked along the outside of the memorial, taking in the plaques, admiring the military and state flags, and pausing at the fallen soldier “some gave all” statue.

Even though it was an overcast day in the middle of a pandemic without a in-person ceremony we felt full of compassion as we chatted with veterans about their military careers. They spoke with such pride and patriotism as they told us about their helicopter maintenance responsibilities.

Thinking back to my conversations with the veterans made me want to interview other veterans. So, I recently asked my dad more details about his service in the Navy. I wanted to string together the bits and pieces of stories I’d heard over the years. And, because he served in the Navy before I turned one year old I don’t have any memories.

My dad’s cousin Mike (left) and my dad (right)

My dad served in the Navy from 1977 until 1981 as an IFT (in-flight technician) aboard a P3-Orion. He was part of the VP-11 Patrol Squadron based out of Brunswick, ME responsible for monitoring Soviet submarines. My next question to my dad was, “How do you monitor subs from the air?” to which he replied, “By dropping salt water activated sonobuoys.” Duh! I know the military is known for having the coolest equipment, but my mind was blown away by such an amazing piece of technology.

As an IFT on a P3 my dad was part of a 13-man crew, responsible for making inflight repairs to the aircraft – basically, he was charged with keeping the plane in the air. He spent time deployed to the Azores, Germany, Spain, Italy, Chile, Puerto Rico, and Greece, to name a few places. Every other day they conducted 15-hour flying missions. My dad recalled one particular month where they required a special sign-off to exceed their 150 flying hours. Phew – that is a lot of air time!

With so much air time, my dad also helped cook meals on an electric griddle. On most “off days” they performed ground work to maintain other planes on the base. When granted true time off he explored the local countryside with his buddies. When I was born in August 1980, the Navy granted him a short leave from his deployment in the Azores to be with my mom and meet me. Again, military family reunions choke me up, so I can only imagine what it’s like to personally experience one.

In chatting with my dad about his Navy experiences, he amazed me with the amount of details he remembered. But, I guess when the Navy tasked him with super important roles on a global level it really left a lasting impression. Just like my phone call interview to my dad, a veteran, left a lasting impression.

Fun Facts:

My grandfather (my dad’s dad) served in the Korean War from 1952-1954 as an Army tank mechanic. He knew the ins and outs of every piece of heavy equipment because of his time at Buick, so it served him well in the Korea conflict. He, too, missed my dad’s birth because of being overseas. I suppose some things are a result of one’s nature 😉