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Battleship, Shuttle Launch, Naval Aviation Museum, and More
(June
30, 2008) | 
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Since my 13-year-old grandson had been promised
that we would visit the Disney World and Universal Studios' theme
parks in Orlando, Florida this summer . . . it provided an excellent
opportunity to arrange historical and informative visits to the USS
Alabama battleship, NASA's Space Center Visitor Complex, National Naval
Aviation
Museum, and New Orleans (since before Katrina).
And what was going to be a very fun trip . . . the
expectations of a perfect one became reality a few weeks before we
were to leave when I learned that the space shuttle Discovery's
launch had been reset for May 31st. It then allowed me to arrange
to see Discovery's launch when we were at the Kennedy's Space Center
Visitor Complex. Nor can I |
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David G. Bancroft |
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adequately describe the “big eyed” happy expression
from my grandson we heard about seeing the space shuttle's launch in
person. (more a little later) |
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Now, the news about Discovery didn't diminish my
grandson's enthusiasm about the rest of the trip either. It
just made it more so. Needless to
say, I was really looking forward to sharing his infectious glee, as
was his mother and grandma.
Battleship USS Alabama |
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Our first “official” stop on the
trip was at the battleship
USS Alabama that is moored in Mobile Bay near downtown Mobile,
Alabama.
This memorial park also goes beyond the mighty
battleship including... the submarine USS Drum; B-52D “Calamity
Jane”; A-12 Blackbird Spy plane; Vietnam PBR River Patrol Boat;
Tuskegee Airmen's P-51D Mustang; other military bombers and
fighter planes; tanks and artillery; and, Vietnam and Korean War
Memorials. |
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Depending on one's
historical interest (or a child's wanting to see / experience
everything) . . . just a leisurely, very informative self-tour
of the Alabama can take several hours to most of the day. I
just wish we had planned for more time there, as there is so
much to take in for so many reasons.
And it was quite evident
that my grandson could have spent several more hours looking
around the Alabama alone. (It is what I would have wanted to do
when I was his age.) Oh yeah, he asked a few questions too! | |
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| We also had an unexpected, memorable meeting with a
World War II hero who survived the Bataan Death March and three years as
a POW in the Philippines under the Japanese. |
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My wife, our 13-year-old grandson, and I were in
gift shop to buy tickets to tour the USS Alabama, when we noticed a tall
man about my father's age wearing his military medals and ribbons. He
had just finished taking a photo with a young boy and then sat down at
his table to sign a book for the boy's mother.
I then noticed the title of the book and went over
to introduce myself. And found myself shaking the hand of retired
Colonel Glenn Frazier, who authored “Hell's Guest” . . . a compelling
recount of his haunting ordeal during World War II. (The book is also a
great testimony about who we proudly refer to as the
greatest American |
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| We had an enjoyable conversation about his efforts
in promoting the book and its potential of being made into a movie. I
also want to again express my thanks to Glenn Frazier for the signed
copy that he sent me, and encourage you to experience “Hell's
Guest” for yourself. (You can even learn more about Colonel Glenn
Frazier at
http://www.hellsguest.com, where a dedicated copy of the book can be
ordered.) Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and Space
Shuttle Launch
I have a feeling that most people who vacation in
Orlando, FL to experience what Disney World, Universal Studios, and
other local attractions have to offer . . . never take the 45 to 60
minute drive eastward to visit the
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (KSCVC).
Well, it should be a vacation must for all doing so
. . . as every adult and children even 7 or 8 years old would find it
worth every minute of their time. You can spend a full day depending on
what you want to experience including... launch pad tours; IMAX films; the
many different rockets and space capsules; seeing the insides of a space
shuttle; the fallen astronauts memorial, and, having lunch with an
astronaut.
The two photos above show David
Bancroft with grandson in front of space shuttle Explorer and
side view of Discovery
There are also
several options in viewing a space shuttle launch
in person, which includes do so very near the launch page by
purchasing VIP tickets. However, I understand that it requires
ordering these tickets when they immediately become available . . .
especially if it is going to be a weekend launch like Discovery's was on
May 31, 2008.
Nor does being the founder of USA Patriotism! carry
much media influence when all the VIP tickets were sold out and
allocated to dignitaries within a short period of time of the first day
they became available . . . about two weeks before I finalized the visit
to KSCVC. One family from Great Britain that were sitting with us to
see the launch about 6 miles away at KSCVC, told us that they were
unable to purchase the VIP tickets within minutes of them being
available to purchase online at the KSCVC site. |
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Still, we had a great time waiting for about 90
minutes before Discovery's launch, as two astronauts who piloted separate space
shuttle missions had a very informative conversation going on that was
appreciated by the thousands in attendance under the very hot, almost
cloudless sky. Now, I know some might
think that the photos here don't adequately illustrate
why one should see a shuttle launch in person.
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| Well, being there for possibly a once in a life time
experience is reason enough for all who were there! So, I urge you to do so yourself . . . as there
are only ten space
shuttle launches remaining. |
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| Driving / Staying Advisory... While I had a
parking placard that allowed for parking after the gates
closed after 9am on a shuttle launch day, it didn't help in avoiding the nearly three hour
return drive to Orlando when leaving KSCVC after the shuttle launch.
The fact that the launch was on a Saturday attracted over 150,000 people
to view the launch in various areas (some illegally). Just imagine all
those vehicles that were heading back to Orlando too with the first 20
or so miles on a two-lane highway. You might want stay in Titusville or
nearby on the east coast the night of “a weekend space shuttle launch”
and then check in an Orlando hotel the next day.
Epcot at Disney World
Since you most likely will be visiting Disney World and/or Universal
Studios if you are going to experience KSCVC, I strongly urge all adults
and families with children who are old enough to understand the
importance of culture to take a full day at Disney World's Epcot theme
park. |
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Epcot has are many enjoyable attractions and rides,
but visiting each country's showcase center should be a must, especially
on a first visit. What better way to get a sense of where many American
families originated . . . as She is a nation of immigrants. You can
even enjoy a respective country's food, knowing that some of the
restaurants are relatively expensive and quickly booked.
Needless to say, the photo here with my grandson shows our visit to
The American Adventure, which remains my favorite on many levels. Inside
the showcase you will enjoy a memorable historical experience. And
you should definitely arrange your time to enjoy a patriotic sidewalk
performance that takes you back to the American Revolution. And in front of the
American Adventure is where
concerts occur at the America Gardens Theatre. |
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| National Naval Aviation Museum
Having my 13 year-old grandson with us reminded me
of the first time when we visited the
National Naval Aviation Museum the first time with our two sons (11
and 8) and daughter (10).
David Bancroft and grandson in front of National Naval
Aviation Museum and a US Marines jet fighter |
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David Bancroft, wife, daughter, and grandson in
front of statues of naval aviators from each war | | And while my daughter liked it then, she enjoyed it
much more watching her son having a great time looking at over 150
beautifully restored aircraft representing Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast
Guard Aviation along with sitting in the many cockpits including a
Blue Angels one. It was the same excitement that my sons exhibited over
20 years ago.
You can also enjoy a group tour given by veterans,
IMAX movies, and motion-based flight simulator. Even the drive to it
within the Naval Air Station Pensacola offers some interesting views. |
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Oh yes, my grandson did ask a few questions during
this wonderfully, inspiring visit |
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Visiting New Orleans Again After Hurricane Katrina
Since the last time we visited New Orleans was
about a month before Hurricane Katrina made its devastating landfall on
August 29, 2005 . . . we spent several hours there visiting the river
front area and the French Quarter.
Seeing the statue of General Andrew Jackson (photo
right), who
became one of America's great Presidents, exemplified to me the
character of New Orleans in its ongoing efforts to return fully to the
way it was before Katrina's deadly, destructive visit.
The same can be said for Mississippi's gulf coast
communities that were impacted severely, as well, but with less media
attention to given their recovery efforts.
And while we can all hope that another Hurricane
Katrina event upon the USA shores will never come again, I am sure
Americans will respond as they have always done to assist fellow
Americans in need. | |
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Your Turn
I hope you enjoyed reading about another Experiencing
America adventure from me . . . and will experience all or part of it
yourself one day (if you haven't already done so). |
David G. Bancroft
Founder / Owner
USA Patriotism!
Copyright 2009 |
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