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FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: John Gillespie Magee, Jr ~ 24 August 2015
StarCMC and The Canteen Crew

Posted on 08/23/2015 5:00:24 PM PDT by 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.)

ArmyPatch small   NavySeal small   Air Force Seal   Marines Seal small   Coast Guard Seal small (better)

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! 


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; heroes; military; troopsupport
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To: The Mayor
In first....The Mayor grabs the gold!!


21 posted on 08/23/2015 6:07:08 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Good evening, Kathy.

HUGS


22 posted on 08/23/2015 6:07:42 PM PDT by Soaring Feather (Holding On)
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To: SandRat
And in second....Sand snags the silver!!


23 posted on 08/23/2015 6:13:47 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: Publius
And rounding out the top three....Publius bags the bronze!!


24 posted on 08/23/2015 6:18:18 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: onedoug
onedoug!!


25 posted on 08/23/2015 6:24:56 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: Kathy in Alaska

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

The G-Pa Biz is going fine.


26 posted on 08/23/2015 6:37:37 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
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To: EXCH54FE

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


27 posted on 08/23/2015 7:00:19 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: left that other site

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


28 posted on 08/23/2015 7:03:30 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: yarddog
What you say is so, so true.

We did not win WWII without paying a price.

29 posted on 08/23/2015 7:08:23 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: SandRat

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


30 posted on 08/23/2015 7:20:29 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: PROCON

Good evening, Pro....you’re welcome/.

It’s a great story behind a great poem.


31 posted on 08/23/2015 7:23:32 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: Kathy in Alaska

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


32 posted on 08/23/2015 7:52:25 PM PDT by IronJack
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To: Kathy in Alaska; LUV W

33 posted on 08/23/2015 8:03:50 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
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To: Sparky1776
Welcome to the Canteen, Sparky, and thank you for the link.


34 posted on 08/23/2015 8:04:02 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: Kathy in Alaska

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


35 posted on 08/23/2015 8:04:19 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apfaDqcf2FA


36 posted on 08/23/2015 8:11:20 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

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


37 posted on 08/23/2015 8:12:30 PM PDT by The Mayor (Honesty means never having to look over your shoulder.)
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To: pfflier

Good evening, pfflier, and welcome to the Canteen.

Thank you for adding more information.


38 posted on 08/23/2015 8:24:28 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: Kathy in Alaska; StarCMC; y'all; laurenmarlowe; MS.BEHAVIN; mylife; NYTexan; TASMANIANRED; ...

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))))

39 posted on 08/23/2015 8:29:08 PM PDT by luvie (Cruz or Lose!)
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To: Soaring Feather

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?


40 posted on 08/23/2015 8:30:10 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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