Anyway, everyone who knew him back in the day is pleased he did well at the "Blue Zoo in the Rockies." I understand he is training to fly the F/A-22 Raptor now. Much success to him in his career.
He even symbolically offered to switch lives with any one of them. "You get my house, my BMW, all of my hard-earned money. But I get to be you; on the verge of joining a 21st Century Air Force second to none. Any takers?"
The message was quite obviously well-received by Hunter Grunden. I just wonder if he remembers that day and that speech? As a USAFA recruiting Officer, perhaps he repeated some of what he heard that fateful day in January 2001. (cont'd)
The Lt Col speaking that night, boldly and openly scoffed at gangs and drugs. The parents present were surprised over how many of their sheltered Denton Texas youngsters actually had been exposed to drugs and approached by gangs. As an alternative to joining a gang and getting high, the speaker showed them a teaser of the technology coming the Air Force's way and how it was a much better alternative for them. (Cont'd)
I wonder if Cadet (now 2nd Lieutenant) Grunden recalls a motivational speaker at his Civil Air Patrol meeting 1/22/01, who so inspired him that he asked the soon-to-be-retired USAF Lt Col to pin his Cadet Airman 1st Cl stripes on him.
Whether he was aiming for the USAFA before then (since he was 12) or not, he was certainly inspired that night. He'd been a slow-starter earning Cadet rank before then. After he blazed his way up to Cadet Colonel before leaving for Colorado Springs. (cont'd)
(continuation 3)
Anyway, everyone who knew him back in the day is pleased he did well at the "Blue Zoo in the Rockies." I understand he is training to fly the F/A-22 Raptor now. Much success to him in his career.
MynahBoyd 3 years ago
(continuation 2)
He even symbolically offered to switch lives with any one of them. "You get my house, my BMW, all of my hard-earned money. But I get to be you; on the verge of joining a 21st Century Air Force second to none. Any takers?"
The message was quite obviously well-received by Hunter Grunden. I just wonder if he remembers that day and that speech? As a USAFA recruiting Officer, perhaps he repeated some of what he heard that fateful day in January 2001. (cont'd)
MynahBoyd 3 years ago
(continuation 1)
The Lt Col speaking that night, boldly and openly scoffed at gangs and drugs. The parents present were surprised over how many of their sheltered Denton Texas youngsters actually had been exposed to drugs and approached by gangs. As an alternative to joining a gang and getting high, the speaker showed them a teaser of the technology coming the Air Force's way and how it was a much better alternative for them. (Cont'd)
MynahBoyd 3 years ago
I wonder if Cadet (now 2nd Lieutenant) Grunden recalls a motivational speaker at his Civil Air Patrol meeting 1/22/01, who so inspired him that he asked the soon-to-be-retired USAF Lt Col to pin his Cadet Airman 1st Cl stripes on him.
Whether he was aiming for the USAFA before then (since he was 12) or not, he was certainly inspired that night. He'd been a slow-starter earning Cadet rank before then. After he blazed his way up to Cadet Colonel before leaving for Colorado Springs. (cont'd)
MynahBoyd 3 years ago