Credo
"Sign on, young man, and sail with me. The stature of our homeland is no more than the measure of ourselves. Our job is to keep her free. Our will is to keep the torch of freedom burning for all. To this solemn purpose we call on the young, the brave, the strong, and the free. Heed my call, Come to the sea. Come Sail with me." -- John Paul Jones
"Pardon him, Theodotus; he is a barbarian, and thinks that the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature" --George Bernard Shaw, "Caesar and Cleopatra"
"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music."--Friedrich Nietzsche
"A kind Providence has placed in our breasts a hatred of the unjust and cruel, in order that we may preserve ourselves from cruelty and injustice. They who bear cruelty, are accomplices in it. The pretended gentleness which excludes that charitable rancour, produces an indifference which is half an approbation. They never will love where they ought to love, who do not hate where they ought to hate."--Edmund Burke
“You say that it is your custom to burn widows. Very well. We also have a custom: when men burn a woman alive, we tie a rope around their necks and we hang them. Build your funeral pyre; beside it, my carpenters will build a gallows. You may follow your custom. And then we will follow ours.”--General Sir Charles Napier
"Μολὼν λαβέ" -- Leonidas
"Blogito Ergo Sum" -- Neptunus Lex
“The one thing I want to leave my children is an honorable name.” –Theodore Roosevelt
Of all the many, many hours I spent (with a minimum 3-hour layover typically) at O’Hare plus living in the area as a kid, I never knew its history. I always figured it was named for some politician or other.
Sure would have been a better way to spend the time to go exploring for that kind of information than sitting and waiting and waiting and waiting…
Wow,
What an amazing story! Will have to find a way to weave this story into our celebrations next week for the Navy’s Birthday!
Really great story!
Thanks.
“…I never knew its history. I always figured it was named for some politician or other.” That’s what I thought too P-3W, great story Lex, it’s nice to see a true hero get a little recognition. I guess the sad part is we assumed it to be a politition until someone came along & pointed out to us the real story.
My greatest hope, as a parent, is that my children will be better people than I am. What an incredible thing “Easy Eddie” taught his son…integrity.
I’ve read many tales of O’Hares’s exploits; but, have never read about, or heared that story.
Cap’n,
I read about LCDR O’Hare back in 5th grade (precocious little proto-Geek that I was). I could see this brave aviator attacking those bombers, even through tail gunner’s best attempts to shoot him down.
Never knew the connection between LCDR O’Hare and Al Capone. Amazing story.
For those of you gifted with the pleasure of a layover at O’Hare, the plaque, Medal and a real live F4-F ‘Wildcat’ are now on display in the terminal. The plaque used to be found between Terminals 1 and 2 but was moved some time ago. If I can find the images on my camera, I send them to you.
When I was there, almost no one stopped to view the plane or read the Medal Citation. That’s a real shame.
I’m late to comment here, but I really want to thank you for posting this. It’s a wonderful, uplifting story. I’ll be sharing it with some other people.
Excellent poem as well. I posted this on my Facebook, should get around quickly. Thanks lex.