F-22 Pilot Helps Honor Fallen Solider

2013-02-04 In a moving story posted on The Huntington Post, a reporter provides a moving story of a F-22 pilot helping a young man honor his father a fallen American solider.

Zoe Mintz writes (excerpts follow):

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/01/pilot-brian-baldwin-delivers-letter_n_2600241.html

MacAidan Gallegos was just five years old when his father was killed in Afghanistan in 2009.

Four years later, 9-year-old ‘Mac’ had a special request in honor of his father’s birthday on Jan. 24 . He wanted to write his dad a letter that would be delivered to him in heaven, KTUU reports.

“I wanted to write a letter because I wanted to know more about my dad and to show that I didn’t forget him and to show that I also love him,” Mac, who lives in Anchorage, Alaska, told the news outlet.

Clearly, DAD would be proud both of his son and his wife.

Amanda Marr, Mac’s mother, posted her son’s wish on Facebook and was soon contacted by Helping American Veterans Experience Alaska (HAVE Alaska), a nonprofit that organizes and funds fishing and hunting trips in Alaska for injured veterans. The organization connected Lt. Col. Brian Baldwin with the family to fly the letter as high as his F-22 aircraft would allow, according to ARPC. 

“Dear Dad, I have some questions. What is it like in a tank? What is like to be a scout? How old are you now? How old were you when you died? What is your favorite food? What is your favorite animal? What is your favorite hobby? What is your favorite activity? What is it like in heaven? Have you seen what I have accomplished? From, your son.”

“It is an honor to fly with Mac’s letter,” Baldwin, a reserve F-22 pilot, assigned to the special mission told the ARPC. “His father gave the greatest sacrifice to our country and I am humbled to be able to do something for him and his family.” Clearly, the father would have been proud not only if his son but his wife.

In the past, Mac has celebrated his fallen father’s special day by baking cupcakes and hosting birthday parties, his mother told ARPC.

“As Mac has gotten older we have turned it into a day where we do ‘Acts of Service’ for others,” she told the news outlet, “It is important for us to remember Justin and celebrate his life.”