There sat World War II Ace Admiral Edward “Whitey” Feightner, celebrating his 100th birthday, across the table from 9-year-old Freeman and 5-year-old sister Hattie.

Freeman, on overhearing grandmother tell his mother that grandma was going to the birthday celebration for the admiral, begged to go. So a second trip was made to get the grandchildren to the tail end of the celebration.

Though only a dozen guests remained, the children were brought cake. More importantly, the admiral was still there. Feightner noticed the children and signed a book for Freeman.

Now Freeman loves science, and the admiral majored in chemistry and mathematics.

The grandchildren had just finished the story of Albert Einstein with their dad, and earlier the true story of Homer Hickam, a coal miner’s son who was inspired by the launch of Sputnik in 1957, and became a NASA engineer (“October Sky,” 1999).

Freeman wanted to read “Whitey” (2014) as soon as he got home. A greatly unanticipated “teachable moment” had just occurred in lives of young children.

What a range of emotions for us adults in recalling history, bravery, huge sacrifice and “Freedom Isn’t Free.” “How many pilots’ planes shot down. How many died at sea. How many foxholes were soldiers’ graves. No, Freedom is not Free.” (Kelly Strong, 1981).

“They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters…” (Psalm 107).

Our family is grateful to those who honored World War II Ace Edward Feightner and other veterans.

JIM PEARL

Hayden Lake