2014-11. HMX-1: Quantico, Virginia & Rome, New York.

    For me the highlight of our trip was being able to spend time with my son, Andrew, in Quantico, Virginia. We got a glimpse of his life as a member of the US Marines and HMX-1, the Marine squadron responsible for the president’s helicopter, Marine One.

Doug & son, Andrew, next to Presidential Helicopter that Andrew's Marine squadron HMX-1 guards, wherever it & the President are in the world. 

    After being cleared, Marilyn and I were given a “cage tour,” othe HMX-1 squadron and the presidential helo—in the presence of some nice but armed Marine guards, a rather professional organization. 

Doug's son, Andrew, the Marine, with Marilyn & his dad (sporting clearance badges) next to Marine One.

    It was a trip down memory lane for me, as the main helicopter the president flies in is similar to the Navy helo I flew from 1971 to 1985. Many things are the same, yet there are so many differences that my mind was in constant discordance, but it all seemed to work. Add the pride I felt knowing that Andrew is one of the MPs responsible for the safety of the bird, and I can say without reservation that my buttons were bursting. 

Andrew on the job.

    The Marines went out of their way to make me feel included when visiting Andrew and his girlfriend, Devon. Granted, they do make me feel ancient, yet being around such a great group of Marines and their families made me so proud. The 1% who are there for us are truly amazing and dedicated individuals.

Devon & Andrew.

    Meeting "my" Andrew's lovely girlfriend, Devon, was an added bonus. ("My," as Marilyn’s oldest son is also an Andrew. Both at times go by Drew— never Andy—so most times we refer to them as MY or YOUR Andrew.) Devon is a lovely, mature young lady, a third-year student at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, who seems determined to achieve her goal of being a special education teacher. I must add, as an obnoxious dad, that she is rather good at keeping Andrew in check. Seeing them work together made me very comfortable.

    One day Marilyn decided she needed a day of rest, so Andrew, Devon, and I went to D.C. and explored the Mall. 

Devon & Andrew, looking toward US Capitol.

Andrew & Doug.

  Serendipity: Two weeks after leaving Quantico, on our last night in Albany, NY, Andrew called and said he was in Rome, NY, where the Marines were staging the helicopters for the president's visit to Cooperstown. As we were a mere two hours northeast, I found a great smile growing on my face. The next day found us enjoying lunch and the afternoon with him. 

Fort Stanwix National Monument, Rome, NY.

    Fort Stanwix, was built by the British, who occupied it from 1762 to 1768. The Colonists occupied it from 1776 until 1781, when it was destroyed by fire. The current fort is a reconstruction.

   The fort was built to protect a portage trail between the Mohawk River and Wood Creek. It had been used for thousands of years by the Indian tribes of the Six Nations Confederacy, whose homelands were in the Mohawk Valley. Called the Oneida Carrying Place by the British, the trail was a link for those traveling by water between the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Ontario. 

Andrew eyeing a truck in his favorite color. He found it a bit much.

Andrew in the (messy) MRV.

    How is that for a small world? Another great visit followed by another goodbye, yet my son and I got a bit of time together, a wonderful thing. 

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Up Next: Washington, DC.