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! 

[MEG33]

*Thank You To All Who Serve Our Country*

Wishing You A Beautiful Monday And A Good Week
*HUGS*

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, LUV W. How’s it going?

[mylife]

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

[SandRat]

Video: Three Americans awarded Legion of Honor by French president

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3328497/posts

[luvie]

These are wonderful, TYPICAL American heroes that don’t ever take their courage off!

[SandRat]

Wonder if the A1c will get the Purple Heart.

[luvie]

I should hope all three of them would get medals and recognition from American so-called leaders.

They’re MY heroes!

[SandRat]

I dout any possitve comments will come from the “Obasdtard side”

[Soaring Feather]

good evening, Kathy!

Mr. Hummer came by this morning, whizzed around me took a dive for my nose, cut that short with a sudden stop and stared in my face - then tore off.. LOL

HUGS

[HiJinx]

I first heard High Flight as a kid. The Armed Forces TV Service in the Mediterranean area closed their broadcast day with a reading of it back in the 60s.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Prayers continue for Steve...