I wish everyone a Happy Independence Day, and hope this day finds you all well.

When you salute our Flag today, I hope you will offer a silent prayer and a special salute for all our brothers who didn't make it back to be with us today.

In particular, let us remember those who fell on this day in their tour. For me, that would be a good friend, with whom I went to Basic and then on to Flight School: WO1 Mark Thomas Jernigan, killed this day in 1970 when the C/3/17 Cav AH-1G Cobra gunship he was piloting failed to pull out of a gun run. Mark was just 21 years old; he left a wife and a daughter, and many friends to mourn him.

Requiet en Pax, my Btother.

Pickett