Page 6 - Aerotech News and Review, June 11, 2021

High Desert Hangar Stories
Coming together is the real message of Memorial Day

by Bob Alvis to help folks find a pathway for their
special to Aerotech News emotions as we recover from this past
year. I chose to share a story of true
Memorial Day 2021 at Lancaster sacrifice that ended up in a well-main-
Cemetery was a welcome return to tained grave at Lancaster Cemetery
a bit of normalcy, as the tradition of — a young man who traveled halfway
remembering the fallen in service to around the world to train at Lancasterís
country was welcomed back by a large War Eagle Field during a time of war,
gathering of local citizens and military never to see home or family ever again.
folks that spanned many generations. Memorial Day is a day of reflection
With color guards and traditions on that honors all the fallen men and wom-
full display, the beautiful surroundings en from all conflicts fought in the name
of the Veterans Court of Honor on this of freedom — a day not specific to in-
warm spring day gave those in atten- dividuals, but to a mindset that bonds
dance a chance to pick up where they them all together in sacrifice.
left off over a year ago, when these Royal Air Force Pilot trainee Meyer
types of gatherings were halted. Himelstaub has been the subject of
When the management at Lancaster many of my stories over the years. His
Cemetery asked if I would be interested tragic death here in America, where
in being the keynote speaker I was a bit he was learning to fly under the Lend-
overwhelmed, as I figured this honor Lease Act, pulls at the heartstrings of
would be reserved for a modern-day anybody that understands the loss of a
warrior and not a guy who reflects loved one far from home, whether in ed to connect to others and to let them unhappy, partly because you have pur- And now I must stop, May God watch
on the past. As I thought about it and combat or training for war. When it know that the struggles of today are pose — you are striving desperately to over and take care of you through this
talked it through, it kind of hit me that came time for me to speak, there was something we have in common with win this grim war instead of indulging winter of bombing and darkness and
maybe what the world needs today no script to read from. What I wanted past generations, who found a way to in mean, selfish pleasures. Deep down give you strength to survive if the worst
is a bit of reflection and a look back to say came from the heart. I just want- overcome. inside you all, overriding discomfort comes with hunger and in the cold.
A recap of my Memorial Day speech and the pain of loss, you are calm and May the time be short until we return,
is not the topic of my column this determined and slightly proud. No one strong in numbers and determination
week. The words I have already spoken with saintly qualities can be unhappy. and skill, to bear our lion’s share in the
will not become any more meaningful Americans are kind, their way of life defeat of the enemy and in fitting the
if repeated, but what I did find that can is remarkably similar to ours in every world for a just peace for all time.
put things in a better perspective is a way. My work here cannot last forever. Your ever-loving son,
letter home by one of the other Royal When I return home, they will prob- Peter
Air Force cadets who trained in Lan- ably give me a few days leave, perhaps
caster. It tells the story of what was on weeks, before putting me operational We face many challenges in the
the line in 1942 in an England that was flying with all its risks. Perhaps I shall world today and it’s easy to say it’s
confused, scared and facing the un- get shot down and killed (I am frank never been as bad as it is now, but less
known, as only a son called into service enough not to indulge in mock heroics.) than 100 years ago the world struggled
by his country can say to his Mother Soon those of us who are now here and endured countless hardships and
from halfway around the world. will have to draw even more deeply evils. Individuals like Peter kept it all
from the well of our hidden virtues, if in perspective and realized that coming
My Dearest Mother, we are not to crack under the strain together as a people and as a family
Your first letter arrived yesterday. of individual air battles against the of mankind was going to be the real
You cannot imagine how glad I was to enemy. There is a lot of goodness in strength that would see people return
have it, not only because I was anxious each one of us. Why it should require a to a normalcy that can so easily be lost,
for news of you, but because it has been modern war, with all its terrible conse- in a world in chaos and war. This was
a sort of tonic for me — a tonic that in
my selfishness, I think I have needed quences to women and children and the the simple message I tried to convey in
rather badly. Let me explain, old people, and its nonsensical preju- my Memorial Day message: that some-
When we arrived in Canada and dice and hatred, to bring it all out is thing as simple as a gathering of like-
had unlimited food and saw streetlights a question that perhaps only God can minded people, in a setting surrounded
again and shops filled with expensive answer. by messages of service and sacrifice, is
luxuries and mixed with people whose It is this, rather than any mad urge the one important thing that can bring
lives were not immediately conditioned to kill Germans or even stamp out Hit- us all together and tell us we are not
by the war — well, it was like a sud- lerism. England has or had, until the alone in our struggles. There are hon-
den release from the nightmare. Now beginning of this war, many faults, yet I orable people willing to risk their all
here at my duty station in the States, am English, and I love my country very for strangers and family and give them
we have done some hard work and deeply. And I believe that England, de- a chance at freedom, security and a
the hospitality from people who have spite her faults, is worth fighting for chance to live in peace.
got a lot to give and know how to give and dying for if need be. Until next time, Bob out ...
makes me forgetful a little too often of
you and Dad and Pamela, and some
of my friends whom I have left home.
And now your letter comes as a
sharp and timely reminder. And per-
haps now is the best time for me to
pause and appraise the world you live
in not despite, but because of the dif-
ference from my own. You, as I did with
you, have gotten accustomed to priva-
tion by slow degrees. You suffered no
wrench of discomfort in the way I have
been privileged to enjoy in the reverse
direction, and consequently you cannot
imagine yourself in your old world. Photograph by Adrienne King
You and everybody in that world of The grave marker for Meyer Bernard Himelstaub, a World War II Royal Air Force
Photograph by Lisa Kinison ours is going through hell. You do not pilot trainee who was killed at War Eagle Field and is buried at the Lancaster
The grave of Royal Air Force Pilot trainee Meyer Himelstaub at the Lancaster realize it — I do. That is the point I am Cemetery. For more photographs from the Memorial Day ceremony, visit
Cemetery. trying to make. You are not particularly www.aerotechnews.com.

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