Young Eagles Continued...
Jacob and Benjamin, asked if it would
be OK if their older brother, Caleb,
joined them. At 14, young Caleb was
terminally ill. He had to be helped into
and out of the plane, but all that Ray
required was that he wanted to fly.
At one point during the flight, Caleb
went to sleep as he rode in the back of
the airplane. Upon landing, all three
brothers buzzed with excitement about
the experience.
Just a few days later, the Judds
received word that Caleb had passed
away. His family expressed sincere
gratitude that they had been able to give
him his “last plane flight”. Ray’s voice
is choked with emotion as he tells the
story, and Lorraine’s eyes glisten with
tears. They speak fondly of Caleb’s
courage and attitude.
Their home office wall is decorated
with plaques and awards from their
Young Eagles participation, and their
files are filled with updates on the kids
they have flown… including more than
one who is now grown and a licensed
pilot, and some who have gone on to
become military pilots…
So there we were back in 2002,
taking the boys on their first small
airplane flight. I probably enjoyed it
more than they did. Who could have
guessed that a dozen years later, Nick
would join the ranks of Young Eagles
who became real-life pilots? He is a
2012 graduate of the United States
Air Force Academy, and was recently
awarded his wings by the Air Force.
Every Young Eagle is listed in a big
logbook in Oshkosh, according to state,
date, place and pilot. Visit
youngeagles.
com
, and click on “logbook” to see any
logbook entry. Anyone interested in
scheduling a local Young Eagles flight
should call Dave & Cheryl Miller, at
540-586-5155.
Discover Smith Mountain Lake
Summer 2014
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