FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: John Gillespie Magee, Jr ~ 24 August 2015

StarCMC and The Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

~ Hall of Heroes ~

John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

(Info found here.)

           

If you're like me, you don't recognize the name of John Gillespie Magee, Jr.   But when I got the suggestion from Ms.Behavin for this thread (thank you Ms.B!) I knew I should go check it out and see.  John Magee is the young man who wrote the very famous poem "High Flight."

"High Flight" was composed by Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee Jr., an American serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was born in Shanghai, China, in 1922, the son of missionary parents, Rev. and Mrs. John Gillespie Magee; his father was an American and his mother was originally a British citizen.

He came to the United States in 1939 and earned a scholarship to Yale, but in September 1940 he enlisted in the RCAF and graduated as a pilot. He was sent to England for combat duty in July 1941.

In August or September 1941, Pilot Officer Magee composed "High Flight" and sent a copy to his parents. Several months later, on Dec. 11, 1941, his Spitfire collided with another plane over England, and Magee, only 19 years of age, crashed to his death.

His remains are buried in the churchyard cemetery at Scopwick, Lincolnshire.

 

High Flight
official poem of the RCAF and RAF

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 the 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 wind-swept 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.

-~-

Thank you, sir, for your service and sacrifice!

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 

[Kathy in Alaska]

In first....The Mayor grabs the gold!!

[Soaring Feather]

Good evening, Kathy.

HUGS

[Kathy in Alaska]

And in second....Sand snags the silver!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

And rounding out the top three....Publius bags the bronze!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

onedoug!!

[SandRat]

Good evening, Kathy...((HUGS))...

The G-Pa Biz is going fine.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening to you, EX...((HUGS))...been sunny today, but low 60s. Still shorts weather. d:o)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Oh my goodness....a quartet!!! Woohoo!! How is Steve managing?

[Kathy in Alaska]

What you say is so, so true.

We did not win WWII without paying a price.

[Kathy in Alaska]

The dreaded Monday virus.....I can’t seem to escape it. LOL!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Pro....you’re welcome/.

It’s a great story behind a great poem.

[IronJack]

Reached out my hand and touched the face of God ...

[SandRat]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Welcome to the Canteen, Sparky, and thank you for the link.

[mylife]

Allo Allo

I hope all is well with you
I gotta go wrestle the lion tomorrow, kinda wish yer Pappy was along.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dJf5rO0-BM

[mylife]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apfaDqcf2FA

[The Mayor]

Thank you Kathy!
Yes a new week means new challenges.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, pfflier, and welcome to the Canteen.

Thank you for adding more information.

[luvie]

Night Owl reporting in!
Great thread, Galz!
That poem is a favorite of mine!
...having two AF Vets in my immediate family!

High Flight

This version used to close out the
broadcast day of our TV station.
I always got a lump in my throat when he said...
.... "Put out my hand and touched the Face of God".
Running late tonight...what else is new! :)
Hope all y'all have a Wonderful Week!
We had rain today!
Came out of no-where and now over 1 inch!
Our lawn is happy!
((((hugs))))

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Ms Feather...*hugs*...just put a pizza in the oven. Yummy!

Sunny day today, still shorts weather, but low 60s.

Did you get some porch time? How’s your hummer?