NOT OT, This is one of the best eulogies I have ever read.

Over the years, we had several WWII glider pilots show up at Ridge
Soaring Gliderport for a glider ride. For most, it would be their
first glider ride since a harrowing invasionary flight into enemy
territory.

Usually, the family would have bought a gift certificate, and they
would all show up, cameras in hand, for what was a very moving event.
Often, the man would wear some of the uniform he wore during his
service. One gave us a photo of himself standing beside a CG-4A
glider. The photo hangs on the pilot lounge wall.

A great book is titled, "The Glider Gang."

As I recall, they typically received 25 training flights, including
night landings, then made their next, invasionary flight, some three
months later. The casualty rates were horrific.

Tom Knauff