On Jun 3, 2020 2:51 PM, Bruce Chambers <[redacted for privacy]> wrote:
Gaye Lyn…………
Here is something that you are welcome to put on your website.
It is true that Dad worked at Grumman building Navy airplanes before he
became an officer and pilot in the Army Air Corps. He started at
Grumman after High School. Later he was accepted into the Army Air
Corps pilot program.
But, I have another story which is quite remarkable that just happened
on Memorial Day.
Jan and I drove from our home in the Philadelphia suburbs to Arlington
National Cemetery on Memorial Day morning to visit Dad and Mom’s
gravesite and to place 2 small flags there. Only families of those
buried there were allowed into the Cemetery due to the Covid lockdown.
When we got there, there was much confusion and delays because the
President and Vice President came for a short ceremony. We had to wait
before we could enter. When we were allowed in we had to walk from the
entrance to Section 60 where they were laid to rest. We got there,
placed our flags and were just appreciating the time we could spend at
the gravesite on a very nice day. A few minutes later an Air Force 4
star General came over to us with his Aide, a Captain in the Air Force.
He asked who we were visiting and he asked me to tell him my fathers’
story. We had a nice conversation about Dad and Mom and my brothers and
sister. I told him my older brother was a pilot in the Air Force, I was
a pilot in the Air National Guard, and my youngest brother retired as a
Major General in the Air Force.
It turns out this 4 star General was General David
Goldfein, the Chief of Staff for the Air Force!!!!! He knew my younger
brother, Bill, since they were both General officers in the Air Force
and Bill also knew his brother who was also an Air Force General.
General Goldfein was very kind and gracious. He told me to tell my
brother that “The Boss” said Hi. He then gave me his “challenge coin”
which is made just for him as the Chief of Staff of the Air Force.
So………….here was the top man in the Air Force stopping to talk to someone
he didn’t even know so he could learn about who we were visiting, and
then thanking us for our service to the country.
We then watched as he roamed around Section 60 and he
would stop and talk to others, or just stop at a gravesite, touch the
stone marker, and then move on. I learned later that day that General
Goldfein visits Section 60 every Memorial Day to visit the gravesites of
those who served under him in the various Middle East conflicts. I also
learned that he sometimes leaves his “coin” on the gravestones. Section
60 is where most are buried who served in the recent wars. He is a true
“servant warrior” who obviously cares deeply for the men and women who
serve under him in the Air Force.
Needless to say, this had a tremendous impact on me and
Jan, and it is something we will never forget. I am sure Dad and Mom
are also very grateful for this incredible act of kindness by the Chief
of Staff of the Air Force.
I have attached a picture of us with the General at the gravesite and
have also attached a picture of the challenge coin he gave me. It has
his name, signature, and CSAF 21 for the 21st Chief of Staff of the Air
Force.
You are welcome to use this on your website, if you wish. You can also
edit it as you see fit.
Hope you are well……………..Bruce
——————————————————————————–
From Gaye.Lyn
To Bruce Chambers
Date 6/3/2020 4:38:10 PM
Subject Re: Robert Chambers
No fair…you made me cry!!! 😪
What a beautiful story.
I’m happy that you and Jan had this experience, Bruce. Thank you so
much for sharing the details and the photos. I will be proud to post it
on our website.
My best,
Gaye Lyn