By Charlie Adcock, F311374
FMCA National President
May 2017
Hello, My Fellow FMCA Family. Gloria and I enjoyed a somewhat leisurely trip en route to Chandler, Arizona, site of FMCA’s 95th International Convention, March 7 through 10. At least it was leisurely compared with our earlier travels this year, when we crisscrossed the country going from one area rally to the next. Someone recently asked whether the tires on our motorhome ever cool off. The answer to that since I took office as FMCA national president in July 2013 has been, “Not often.”
During our recent trip to Arizona, we were joined by FMCA national senior vice president Jon Walker and his wife, Sondra, as we spent some time as tourists in Texas. We visited San Antonio, where we dined at the top of the 750-foot-tall Tower of the Americas. We also enjoyed all of the action along the River Walk. What a fun city!
Jon and I share a love of airplanes, and we had a special experience at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. We had the opportunity to tour a C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft at the 433rd Airlift Wing — also known as the Alamo Wing — an Air Force Reserve unit. The C-5 Galaxy is the world’s second-largest aircraft and is designed to facilitate massive deployment of troops and supplies worldwide. It can carry a cargo load of up to 270,000 pounds.
I retired from a career in the United States Air Force in 1984. I served as a load master on several aircraft similar to the one we toured recently in San Antonio, but, boy, was I impressed by the enhancements that have been made to these planes since my time in the military. Jon and I were shown around by Master Sgt. Dave Delgado, a 356th Airlift Squadron load master. Master Sgt. Delgado started his military career right around the time mine ended. A load master is responsible for making sure a plane is properly loaded and balanced with people and supplies before each flight to keep passengers and cargo safe and secure.
What a thrill it was for Jon and me to sit in the cockpit of this amazing aircraft. As you can tell by the smiles on our faces in the photo, Jon and I felt like two kids in the candy store. I should note that Jon worked as a pilot for Miles Laboratories/Bayer and also was an FAA-licensed instructor. But he’s never flown a plane this big!
It would be hard to top that experience, but Jon and I weren’t finished yet with our airplane touring. We also stopped in Tucson, Arizona, to visit the “Boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Known as the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, this is the world’s largest aircraft boneyard and parts reclamation facility and is used by all branches of the U.S. military and the U.S. government.
All of this talk of military aircraft leads me to a reminder that this month brings Memorial Day. Yes, it’s a national holiday and a time when swimming pools open, and friends and family gather to fire up the grill, have picnics, and enjoy time together. That’s important, but we also shouldn’t forget the true meaning of this holiday and the debt of gratitude we owe to our military personnel. Every day, we enjoy freedoms that they help to secure. This includes the freedom that allows us to travel in our RVs and enjoy experiences such as those Jon, Sondra, Gloria, and I have had already this year.
Memorial Day specifically is a time to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives in service to their country. The holiday dates back to May 1868 and first was intended to honor fallen soldiers from the Civil War. It was called Decoration Day, as the nation was encouraged to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. After World War I, the day came to be known as a time to honor all who have died in American wars.
Memorial Day officially became a U.S. national holiday in 1971. In December 2000, the National Moment of Remembrance resolution was passed. This resolution suggests that all Americans pause at 3:00 p.m. local time on each Memorial Day to remember and reflect on the sacrifices made by many. So, whatever you are doing on that day, please stop for at least a moment and think about what the holiday really means.
In addition to remembering our fallen heroes, I encourage you to take time to thank a veteran and to thank those currently serving in the military. Be sure to also express gratitude to our first responders — the police officers, firefighters, and EMS personnel who help to keep us safe every day. This month also happens to bring Peace Officers Memorial Day — May 15 — a proclamation signed by President John F. Kennedy in 1962 that also designated the week in which this day falls as Police Week.
Thanks to all who serve and have served.
Rally In The Valley — where the West was fun! I want to thank all FMCA members and guests who joined us at Rawhide Western Town and Event Center in Chandler, Arizona, for FMCA’s “Rally In The Valley.” We experienced the famous Arizona sunshine and heat, and most went home with a dose of desert dust, but it was so great to set up camp at such an unusual entertainment venue. A total of 2,627 RVs gathered for this event, including 2,273 family-member RVs and 354 commercial motorhomes.
Jon and I even spent some time behind bars during the convention. Don’t be alarmed, though. We weren’t in the Chandler city jail. Yes, we were arrested and thrown into the Rawhide Western Town jail on charges of leading the FMCA Gang, and stirring up all sorts of mischief in the process. We were kept locked up by a couple of gun-toting cowpokes while we raised bail money. Those funds were donated to the St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, which helps to fight hunger in Arizona.
You can read more about the convention and see some of the photos that were taken during the week starting on page 62 of this issue of the magazine.
Join us at the “Crossroads To Fun.” Now that the “Rally In The Valley” is in our rearview mirror, we look forward to FMCA’s 96th International Convention, set to take place July 12 through 15, 2017, at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and Event Center in Indianapolis. We’re calling it “Crossroads To Fun,” a combination of the Indiana State motto, “Crossroads of America” and the FMCA motto: “It’s all about having fun!” The state motto actually has its roots in a nickname for Indianapolis, which happens to be a hub for several major interstates that crisscross the state.
Registration for the “Crossroads To Fun” event currently is under way, and we’d love to have you join us. A registration form appears on page 57 of this magazine. You can register online at FMCA.com; by calling the FMCA national office at (800) 543-3622; or by mail.
FMCA under construction. Big decisions will be presented to the Governing Board during our meeting in Indy, as discussed in last month’s column and announced at the Rally In The Valley. Among them will be the proposal to open up FMCA to owners of all types of RVs. This is in direct response to feedback from you, the member. More information will be shared by email, so please make sure we have the most up-to-date email address for you so you get all the important FMCA communications.
This also is the year that the election of FMCA’s national president, national senior vice president, national secretary, and national treasurer takes place during the Governing Board meeting. The resumes of the candidates appear starting on page 44 of this issue.
The past four years have flown by, and it’s hard to believe that my term as president will come to a close in Indy. I look forward to seeing you there. Be sure to make plans now to join us! And, remember, “It’s all about having fun!”