Ellsworth

I have a distant relative who served at Fort Lewis as a helicopter mechanic.
We shared a holiday, and some family get-togethers at that time.

A soldier stationed away from home meets a sullen teenager (could be an apt description).
As an adult looking back, it was a pleasure to have met the man, and have the experience.

After he was discharged he went on to become a civilian doctor.

I like to think that in both positions, he took equal care of his patients.
Because in both cases, there's a lot riding on the work.

For helicopters, distance traveled (aka time aloft) = increased risk of a crash (mechanical failure).
There's likely an analogy to human life in that, 'once launched from the canal.'

Because in both cases, good upkeep can make all the difference.
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Rest in peace, all those who perished over the Potomac River on January 29, 2025.*

Are we entering a time, when airplanes fall from the sky more frequently?
And that question is expressed with the utmost of respect.

*Edited to correct unintentional typo.