Our family went on a very exciting trip to Charleston, South Carolina. A city filled with so much history and legends, that it's really hard to leave, not feeling changed, in someway.
For me that change came in the form of knowledge. Knowledge of history. Yes, I knew about the World Wars, and have even been to visit the USS Yorktown before, but never have I FELT the history the way I did that day. I am not sure if it was because I wanted my children to know the sacrifices that our military men and women have made for our country,or because I was armed with more information myself. Either way, it was a wonderful experience, and I know that we will go back again.
For those of you that do so happen to read my entries, please let me say THANK YOU to all the military men and women, present and past, that have fought to make our country what it is today. Your sacrifices have not went unnoticed. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!!
From the website....
The single seat F/A-18 Hornet is an all-weather fighter and attack aircraft. Hornet holds the distinction of being our nation's first strike-fighter. According to the United States Navy, "it was designed for traditional strike applications such as interdiction and close air support without compromising its fighter capabilities. With its excellent fighter and self-defense capabilities, the F/A-18 at the same time increases strike mission survivability and replaces the F-14 Tomcat in fleet air defense. F/A-18 Hornets are currently operating in 37 tactical squadrons from air stations world-wide, and from 10 aircraft carriers." America's premier flight demonstration team, the Navy's Blue Angels Squadron, currently flies the F/A-18 Hornet.
A Wing and a Prayer... and a Crane!
For the second time in less than a year, the Patriots Point staff was called upon to work out the details of bringing a new aircraft to Yorktown's flight deck. Our latest addition served as part of the Marine Reserve's Flying Gators squadron of Hornets stationed at Naval Air Station Atlanta. In 2005, the Flying Gators become the first fixed wing Marine Reserve unit activated since the Korean War, flying missions in Iraq.
Our Hornet was flown from Atlanta to Jacksonville, Florida in the fall of 2007 where it went through the demilitarization process and was disassembled. In early October the aircraft was trucked from Jacksonville to the Charleston area arriving just in time for rush hour traffic and more than a few curious looks from motorists. Reassembled on the grounds of Patriots Point, the Hornet was carefully rolled down the pier and on October 9, 2007 was lifted by crane onto Yorktown's flight deck to the delight of some two hundred spectators who gathered to watch the process.
