I was raised in rural vermont and attended a one room school for 7 years

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I WAS RAISED IN RURAL VERMONT AND ATTENDED A ONE ROOM SCHOOL FOR 7 YEARS.

EACH YEAR ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL I WOULD SECURE A SEAT NEXT TO THE WINDOW SO I COULD LOOK OUT THE WINDOW AT THE DEER AND DREAM OF THINGS YOUNG BOYS DREAM OF. I COULD SEE THE STEEL BRIDGE I USED TO LAUNCH MY MODEL AIRPLANES FROM. ALSO I WAS POSITIONED SUCH THAT I COULD SEE THROUGH THE KITCHEN ANNEX INTO THE GIRLS BATHROOM ( THEY HAD INSIDE PLUMBING) WHENEVER THE DOOR WAS OPENED. OVER THE COMMODE WAS A COPY OF THE CLASSIC PROFILE PHOTO OF THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS AND CHARLES LINDBERGH. WHEN THE SCHOOL WAS BOARDED UP IN 1958 I ASKED FOR THE PICTURE. IT HANGS IN MY BATHROOM TO THIS DAY!

RECENTLY I WAS ABLE TO LOCATE THE CLASSIC PHOTO I HAVE. IT IS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE COVER OF A BOOK I GOT AT THE SMITHSONIAN THAT TELLS THE STORY OF LINDBERGH IN PICTURES. I LOCATED MY PICTURE IN THE ARCHIVES AT LINDBERGH'S HOME MUSEUM IN MINNESOTA. BOTH PICTURES WERE TAKEN WITHIN MINUTES OF EACH OTHER AS THE HANDS ARE IN A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT POSITION BUT THE BLADES OF GRASS BETWEEN LINDY"S FEET ARE IDENTICAL. THE PICTURE WAS TAKEN AT CURTIS FIELD IN THE DAYS PRIOR TO THE ATLANTIC FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT IS SPINNERLESS AS IT WAS FOUND TO BE CRACKED AND WAS REPLACED WITH A NON -BURNISHED SPINNER. THE ORIGINAL SPINNER (SIGNED BY THE WORKERS FROM RYAN ) WAS REMOVED AND IS ON DISPLAY AT THE SMITHSONIAN. THE REPLACEMENT IS ON THE AIRCRAFT. THE PICTURE IN MY BATHROOM IS A REMINDER TO ME OF ONE OF MY HEROES AND HOW MUCH MY CAREER IN AVIATION HAS MEANT TO ME. I LIVE TO FLY!

By CAPT. DAVE KENT
UAL 757/767 JFK

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