It’s Salute to Armed Forces night as the Mariners continue their series vs. the Cardinals, and that included a US Air Force C-17 cargo-plane flyover. We noticed it as it headed southbound over West Seattle a short time ago, so we’re making note in case you noticed it too.
(Added photo sent by James Bratsanos.)
My husband noticed it looking north from Gatewood Hiill. It was a a big bird!!
Free speech not withstanding, your comment is deplorable. You might not be here today without what our Armed Forces have done for us and for the world. They absolutely deserve recognition, and those pilots also need training. Back to history class(es) with you.
Burgerman I’m a veteran and take no offense to Blbl’s comment, and in fact agree with them. The glorification of/infatuation with our military is overdone and IMO is disingenuous, particularly when you have right wing nuts who say they support it one day then call it woke the next.
Every Empire has said the same thing to its citizens, from the Romans to the British. “Just trust us, no need to do any thinking on your own. ”
What’s interesting here is that out of all the people I know who’ve served, EVERY ONE OF THEM would agree with BLBL: things like a Salute to Armed Forces Day is along the lines of people saying “thank you for your service.” They all think it’s utterly ridiculous. Just my two cents (didn’t serve myself, btw)
BLBL. “what a waste” Please educate us on what you’d rather see/have happen. Please provide documentation that your way would not be a “waste” and would garner no complaints.
How about we honor actual service members instead of the military industrial complex. Fly-by’s honor the MIC and machines of war not people. Did you know that congressional republicans are considering slashing the VA budget by 30% as part of their brinkmanship over the debt ceiling? I would posit that increasing the VA by 30% would honor our service members more than a fly-by.
As a veteran who served to help protect your continued right to express your opinions, allow me to point out that these “fly-bys” serve a multitude of missions. In no order of importance these missions include: 1: Training. 2: Publicity. 3: Recruiting. You want to be able to express yourself. It seems hypocritical to me that many in Seattle would choose to deny those who identify as patriotic, their right to express themselves freely as they celebrate their freedoms as Americans. It’s Baseball. American, like apple pie. Let’s focus on unity, not division.
I was walking up to Rite Aid from Fauntleroy when that plane flew over my head. Heard it coming, and got a nice long look at this impressive plane as it flew low and slow, southwest towards Vashon. I used to love hearing and seeing these big beasts as a kid, when they’d make training flights out of McChord while we were visiting my Dad at Ft. Lewis. The sound is etched into my memory – I think they must have changed the engines on this type of plane because this one sounded nothing like they used to. Made my afternoon!
I find it encouraging. When we get to the point where we afraid to criticize the military, we are in deep, deep trouble. Ask Ukrainians or Russians who both live in authoritarian states if they feel comfortable speaking out against their respective military; we don’t want to go that route.
We also don’t want to go down the route of hard-left progressivism, so there’s that.
Sorry, comment time is over.
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