In memoriam ...

[FL270]

Today is a very difficult day for me. One year ago, 12 April 2003, one of my closest friends died. Shaun Michael Bohrer was killed in a crash while flight instructing near Dansville, New York. He was 22. I had known him since age 8. Shaun was an Embry-Riddle graduate, a Continental Airlines and Atlantic Coast Airlines intern, a flight instructor, a lover of music, and the best friend a guy could ever want. Even though you've left this life, you'll always fly with me, my friend ...

The following poem was read at his funeral, and I want to share it here.

IMPRESSIONS OF A PILOT

Flight is freedom in it's purest form,
to dance with the clouds which follow a storm;
to roll and glide, to wheel and spin;
To feel the joy that swells within;
To leave the earth with its troubles and fly,
And know the warmth of a clear spring sky;
Then back to earth at the end of the day,
released from the tensions which melted away.
Should my end come while I am in flight,
Whether brightest day or darkest night;
Spare me your pity and shrug off the pain,
Secure in the knowledge that I'd do it again;
For each of us is created to die,
And within me I know,
I was born to fly.

-- Gary Claud Stokor

[Mr_Creepy]

great poem.

Would someone post that other one? The Aviator?

The one that says "for I have reached out my hand and touched the naked face of God ..."

That one is awesome.

[SteveC]

Sorry for the loss of your friend, Russ.

It's always tragic to lose one so young and full of life.

My thoughts and prayers are with you on a sad day of remembrance.

[jtrain609]

Russ, I'm really sorry to hear that it's already been a year since you lost Shaun. I know you spoke very highly of him when we in Utah, and I know that ya'll were close. It's horrible, but as you said; he left us doing what he loved right?

If you need anything bro, you've got my number.

Cheers


John Herreshoff

[EatSleepFly]

Sorry for your loss, Russ.

I remember when it happened, I was in the area at the time. I didn't know Shaun personally, but all I ever heard about him was what a great guy he was.

[JEP]

J.T. Here is the poem with that line, but has a different title.
--------------------------------------

High Flight


Oh I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds -- and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of -- wheeled and soared and swung
High in sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

John Gillespie Magee


----------------------------------------------------------
Taken from Because I fly--A Collection of Aviation Poetry

very good book

[donttouchanything]

My prayers go out to Shaun and his family and friends.

Here's another poem that while not aviation related says a lot.



JUST THINK!

Just think! some night the stars will gleam
upon a cold, grey stone,
And trace a name is silver beam,
And lo! 'twill be your own.

That night is speeding on to greet
Your epitatic rhyme.
Your life is but a little beatt
Within the heart of time.

A little gain, a little pain,
A laugh, lest you may moan:
A little blame, a little fame,
A star-gleam on a stone.


By Robert Service

[Mr_Creepy]

That looks pretty close.

Thanks