“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it.”

- Thomas Paine (The Crisis, no. 4, 11 September 1777)

For all those who served during the Vietnam War, Flightline Fabrications is excited to announce our new line of Vietnam Service Medal stickers.  While simple versions of this ribbon can be found in many stores, Flightline Fabrications has done what only we can:  fused our unique and original silhouettes showcasing Vietnam War era aircraft, vehicles, firearms and slogans with the familar red, yellow and green ribbon.  Once more we bring you a product you won’t find anywhere else!

While we offer several silhouette emblazoned medal stickers in our store, we always welcome your custom requests at sales@FlightlineFabrications.com.  If you would like one of our naval vessel silhouettes, another aircraft, or even your name or that of a relative added to the Vietnam Service Medal background, contact us for pricing and availability.  We are happy to work with you to create the unique sticker to best display your pride of service!

PERFECT FOR THE ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, MARINE CORPS OR COAST GUARD VIETNAM VETERAN!

We currently offer the Vietnam Service Medal 10″ x 3″ sticker with the following silhouette overlays:  A-3 Skywarrior, A-4 Skyhawk, A-6 Intruder, AC-47 Spooky, B-52 Stratofortress, C-123 Provider, F-4 Phantom II, M60 Patton tank, A-1E/AD5 Skyraider, A-1H/AD6 Skyraider, A-1J/AD7 Skyraider, AH-1 Cobra, B-66 Destroyer, CH-46 Sea Knight, CH-47 Chinook, PBR Mark 2, F-100 Super Sabre, F-105 Thunderchief, H-34 Choctaw, HH-3 Jolly Green Giant,  M14 Rifle, M50 Ontos, OV-10 Bronco, SH-2 Sea Sprite, SH-3 Sea King, UH-1B Iroquois “Huey”, and SEMPER FI!

The other day I purchased a CD titled Restoration by the trio Phillips, Craig and Dean which has as track 2 the song Freedom’s Never Free.  I listened to and was very moved by the lyrics and have decided to share them here.  I believe they are meaningful on many levels and a true reminder of the sacrafices and marvelous gift of freedom given to us by so many and the even more marvelous gift given by just one.

Freedom’s Never Free

Standing on a hillside
Where the river meets the sea
White crosses without number
Line the fields of peace

And each one a silent witness
Staring back at me
Every cross a story
Of another place in time
Where young men thought it worthy
To give their life for mine
And for the sake of honor
Left their dreams behind

And for the price they paid
I’m forever in their debt
Their memory will not die
‘Cause I will not forget

I will stand and hold my head up high
I will dedicate my life
To the glory of the ones who had to die
I will live, live what I believe
If for no one else but me
I will remember
That freedom’s never free

It was on another hillside
Outside the city gates
The battle lines were drawn
As soldiers took their place

The Father watched in silence
As a cross was raised
With freedom drawing closer
He took His final breath
He drank our cup of guilt
And took the sting from death

Heaven’s Finest Soldier
clothed in human flesh
And for the price He paid
I’m forever in His debt
The cross will never die
‘Cause I will not forget

I will stand and hold my head up high
I will dedicate my life
To the glory of the One who had to die
I will live, live what I believe
If for no one else but me
To remember that
Freedom’s Never Free

I will walk free
I will stay free
I will live free
I will die free

Acquired in 2007, this C-47 Gooney Bird Pilots Door was originally NOS Military Inventory.  During the restoration of this Pilots Door a dicision was made to paint the door in the colors of the C-47 transports that participated in the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France on June 6, 1944. 

Fly By: C-47 Gooney Bird
 

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*Virtual museum artifacts are not for sale.* 

All Artifacts are on Loan From the personal collection of Bryan Heim

October 3, 1942 – This date marks the first successful launch of a V-2 rocket from Test Stand VII in Peenemünde, Germany.  This is also the first man-made object to reach space.

October 3, 1990 – After years of communist rule following the end of World War II, the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) ceases to exist and becomes a part of the Federal Republic of Germany.  The day is celebrated as German Unity Day.

October 3, 1993 – Battle of Mogadishu (The Day of the Rangers): In an attempt to capture officials of warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid’s organization in Mogadishu, Somalia, 19 US Soldiers and about 1,000 Somalis are killed in heavy fighting.  The battle took place as part of Operation Gothic Serpent and utilized Task Force Ranger which included members of Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta (Delta Force) and aviation support from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) “The Night Stalkers“. 

After one soldier misses the fastrope and falls from his MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and two other Black Hawks are shot down by Somalis with RPGs the mission changes dramatically and would only end the following day after a drawn out gunfight pitting the training of the American soldiers against the shear weight of numbers and drug induced fervor arrayed against them.  The event would come to be immortalized in a book and movie both titled Black Hawk Down.

I personally was in uniform serving stateside when this battle took place.  I have since read the book, seen the movie and had the good fortune of working as a civilian with a veteran of this battle.  I have nothing but the utmost respect and reverence for those soldiers who fought in Somalia.  Their experiences are not unlike those of American soldiers in any war on any continent and in any era.  Their bravery, fortitude and dedication to their purpose and to each other is admirable and worthy of high respect.

October 1, 1947 – First flight of the North American Aviation F-86 Sabre jet fighter which will become famous as a MiG killer in the skies above Korea inwhat will come to be known as MiG Alley.

October 1, 1958 – NASA is formed to replace the former NACA as the United States’ organization governing space travel and exploration as well as research into air and space craft.

October 1, 1969 – The Concorde Supersonic Transport (SST) travels faster than the speed of sound for the first time.  The aircraft would go on to be the only successful supersonic passenger aircraft and serve under the livery of Air France and British Airways until its retirement in 2003 due to fiscal and environmental impact concerns.