She sat along the westside skyline of Manhattan, aglow with the flowing crowds that came to bask in the sunny Memorial Day activities re−awakening that over−trafficked highway.
Ruby Schultz, our dear friend, had planned her trip to renew her annual visit to the once war−torn Intrepid air craft carrier who played such an important part in America’s legendary sea battles.
After World War II Ruby Schultz’s only brother died in a B−17 bomber. The plane had been pressed into post−war services to transport American troops home from overseas.
That tragic late night flight, laden with US returning troops, hit a tall mountain in western Massachusets the summer after the war had ended in July 1946. All aboard went down in flames and explosions.
But, in addition to joining many other famlies in their annual pilgrimage to that fire−stained mountain, Ruby Schultz also treks to the annual Intrepid Memorial Day commemoration.
With the mayor of our great city strangely absent, both Governor Paterson and New York’s new US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, very ably addressed the sun−bedecked, festive crowd and glowingly welcomed that mighty kingpin of the salty seas back to her sunny berth in New York’s harbor.
Very informally after the ceremonies, both the governor and our new seantor stayed, and greeted the multitudes who soaked in so much of New York’s Holiday spirited sunshine.
Most congenially, Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert, addressed the throngs that had flocked to visit the Intrepid at her throne on Manhattan’s upper west side and spoke thankfully to all who had welcomed our mighty Queen of the Seas home after her lengthy restoration.
