We Salute You

It is such a loss to me that me kids don't have their Granddaddy anymore. He died when they were 5, 2, and 4 months. Tate is the only one with genuine memories of him and those are fading. But even in his absence, their love and honor for him continues to grow.

The 5th graders have a big spring project. They do a research paper on a historical figure, present it in class, create a display board and dress up as that character in a Wax Museum for family and other students to walk through. Tate chose Jimmy Doolittle, a pilot who led the air raid on Tokyo in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor. Doolittle went on to become a General in the Air Force. This wasn't a random choice. Tate chose Jimmy Doolittle as a tribute to my Dad who was a pilot and a Lt. General in the Air Force.
He got to wear my Dad's uniform and hat. I can't begin to describe the feelings I had seeing Tate in it. He had a framed picture of my Dad at his table and he wrote the following words of explanation on it "I chose Jimmy Doolittle because my grandfather was a pilot and a General in the Air Force and I wanted to research someone in honor of him. My grandfather was a big inspiration to work hard and persevere. I wish he was here." Be still, my beating heart.

Below he is in Wax Museum form. The characters would come to life if you asked them questions about the person they represented. He knows just about everything there is to know about James H. Doolittle.
He worked so hard on his display board. The vision was all his, and I just helped to tape things on. When we were all done he leaned back and sighed saying "Ahh, I love my project." What a blessing for him to know the satisfaction of a job well done.
Jack has been telling all the kindergartners about James H. Doolittle for weeks. Not the usual figure for a 6 year old to be into, but Tate's brother and sister were so proud of him...

Lt. General Martin G. Colladay, also known as Daddy and Granddaddy, your legacy lives on. You are a worthy hero. We are proud to have belonged to you. I, too, wish you were here. I know you would have been proud of Tate as well.