It is with heartfelt pain we must report that on April 12th, 2017 the team 'lost' one of its own. John Graham III, CEO of Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (PIA) - our 2016 education sponsor and dearest brother of our former Purple Hearts co-pilot Cary Fletcher. Mr Graham sadly suffered a fatal plane crash during practice landings at Rostraver airport (KFWQ), Pennsylvania. Reportedly John was piloting and testing flight characteristics in gusty conditions of the school's pre-WWII Howard high wing tailwheel aircraft which had been recently renovated.
John Graham's commitment to aviation education is without equal. He was a valued member of the Pennsylvania business community, as well as an ethical, supportive, and compassionate leader, mentor, and visionary in all aspects of his far too short life. John Graham is a 'Flyer' who will be sorely missed ... 'Welcome Home'.
- ed.
Flyer's Prayer - by: Patrick J. Phillips
When this life I'm in is done,
And at the gates I stand,
My hope is that I answer all
His questions on command.
I doubt He'll ask me of my fame,
Or all the things I knew, Instead,
He'll ask of rainbows sent
On rainy days I flew.
The hours logged, the status reached,
The ratings will not matter.
He'll ask me if I saw the rays
And how He made them scatter.
Or what about the droplets clear,
I spread across your screen?
Ad did you see the twinkling eyes.
If student pilots keen?
The way your heart jumped in your chest,
That special solo day-
Did you take time to thank the one
Who fell along the way?
Remember how the runway lights
Looked one night long ago
When you were lost and found your way,
And how - you still don't know?
How fast, how far, how much, how high?
He'll ask me not these things
But did I take the time to watch
The Moonbeams wash my wings?
And did you see the patchwork fields
And mountains I did mold;
The mirrored lakes and velvet hills,
Of these did I behold?
The wind he flung along my wings,
On final almost stalled.
And did I know it was His name,
That I so fearfully called?
And when the goals are reached at last,
When all the flying's done,
I'll answer Him with no regret-
Indeed, I had some fun.
So when these things are asked of me,
And I can reach no higher,
My prayer this day - His hand extends
To welcome home a Flyer.
