All I ever knew was that my dad was a pilot of an F-106; he was killed because his ejection seat didn't work. And I guess that's the way it always was. I was so little when he died. I didn't ask a lot of questions. |
Col. Broughton was actually supposed to be in that airplane. He was supposed to fly that plane that morning and got called out to a meeting within 15 minutes of the time the flight was supposed to take off, and asked my father to fill in for him. |
I didn't know what I'd find out. I don't think I realized until I started the process how painful it was going to be for me, really. Looking back, I've decided that I really grieved for the first time in my life - 42 years later. |
I'm sure it will be incredibly wonderful but incredibly emotional. |
The whole journey has gotten me to that point where I felt sort of helpless in knowing this building and that there is nothing on it, especially for the kids who live there, to understand that this man gave the ultimate sacrifice and he left behind a family. |