"Honoring my Father"

My father passed away in 1985. I will really just starting my life back then, I was active duty in the Marine Corps. Dad never really got to see how the family turned out. Dad was a fire chief at Nellis AFB for 35 years. His celebrated career was filled with his respected stature in the community. I remember how proud I was of him when he would come to our Grade School during Fire Prevention week in his Chief's uniform. My dad had a wall full of Certificates, twice he pulled Pilot's out of crashed Military Jets while the aircraft were engulfed in flames. After he retired, he went to work at the Nevada Test Site. Once I received my Q2 Clearance at HMX-1 we were able to share stories. My youngest brother and I had heard that they had placed a plaque in my Dad's honor at Area 51. No one could confirm that. One day my youngest brother met a Lt. Col at an American Legion Veteran's day function. This gentleman facilitated a ride for he and my brother to go to the cite. Dad, like me went by "Al". I think this is the reason they used A. for his middle name instead of H his actual middle initial.

Brad was able to take two pictures from a camera handed to him. He was later sent a wonderful letter and a Declassified CD-R with the pictures. I would like to share it with you on my blog.

My Dad was my hero... I would like to honor him in this new Year of Our Lord, 2010....

New Clark County Shooting Park

I was able to get in a few nice quarter size groupings with my Glock 26 Concealed weapon...

Steve adjusts his pistol sights...

Dinner after Church at one of my favorite's 'Olive Garden'

Brad and Steve cut up about how it's easier to use a staple gun than tape....

Brad Lane shows his small arms expertise....

Carrying back the targets for reset.....

Rifle range......

Brad sights in his new 308 with it's 4-12 Leupold...

Steve sets up his new rifle.... We didn't shoot the SKS today and only Steve and I ended up shooting at the Skeet range. Brad was worn out after 7 hours of shooting and the cold.

"Christmas Day"

BYU-44 Oregon St. 20 "Maaco Bowl"

Mad Max gives my mother her after game hug!

45 Mile an hour winds nearly blew the American flag that covered the field, away!

"Mad Max" signs autographs after the game... His last at BYU....

My cousin Mark, gives my Mom a big hug after the game!

My mom and Max, Mom's sisters grandson, give each other a hug after the game...

Mad Max Hall guides he Cougar's to another touchdown!

It was at least 40 degrees and with the wind blowing at 25-30 MPH the chill factor had to put it even colder. It was miserable.

Even the ESPN camera man was finding ways to keep warm all night. Don't know how the players managed. I think that they had heaters on the sidelines.

At Halftime, the BYU Cougar band played and truly showed up the Oregon State band.....

Pre-game huddle in the North End Zone

Coin Toss before the game!

Pre-Game warm ups

We had front row tickets on the 30 yard line! Right in the open wind!

Oregon State did a pre-game performance. We weren't too impressed!

Sandi and I were able to get to the 2009 Maaco Bowl at Sam Boyd stadium where I played for UNLV years ago, to watch the BYU Cougar's and the Oregon State Beavers fight it out! The traffic going and coming home was slight as most of the Oregon fans left at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Who could blame them with taking a beating from BYU and the miserable and I mean miserable cold and wind that never let up. BYU took charge early on and never looked back. The half time show was spectacular, honoring our men in uniform complete with two Air force Pave Hawk helicopters doing a halftime pass. The Cougar crowd was in it the entire game with non stop cheering. For those of you watching on ESPN it was as great of a game on TV as at the stadium. It was good to join family again... The post game pictures are on the way. What an awesome time. I was too cold to be hungry or thirsty even though my wife attempted to force feed me some hot chocolate she purchased. Wish you all could have come.. It was a great game!

I'm going to try and get some videos loaded here, check them out! I wasn't shaking the camera, the wind was blowing that hard....