Aaron laid down his life for others. I believe he volunteered because he wanted to make the world a better place. His message for us is that we have to do the same. We have to find a way to carry that message forward. As a Naval Academy alum, over the past few years I’ve found myself making the trek to Philadelphia for the Army-Navy football game. Of course, I always cheer for the Navy team, but the real meaning of this annual event surpasses any college allegiance. And ever since 2008, I’ve found some solace in knowing that young men and women – like Aaron – still come forward to serve. Whether that service is manifested as a Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine – the real message to understand is that Americans will allow their sons and daughters to serve as long as they believe in what we do. Aaron’s life demonstrates that this is an awesome responsibility, echoed further by the more than seven thousand Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines killed in Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11. At the end of the day, I have to ask myself: What have I done to live up to Aaron’s example, and the example of thousands of others like him? I pray that my own children can have the same courage that Aaron personified, up to his last day.
gh The Best Scribe for 2020 Finally Has Her Award By Rotor Review Staff
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otor Review, published quarterly by the Naval Helicopter Association, is intended to support the goals of the association by providing a forum for discussion, and exchange of information, to the Naval Helicopter Community. The Best Scribe is awarded annually to the active duty member of the Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard whose article, published in Rotor Review during the previous calendar year which addresses the subject of career growth for helicopter pilots in the most original, constructive and informative manner. Every year, the presentation of the Best Scribe Award has been at the Symposium but in 2020 the pandemic forced a change of plan. The Symposium was canceled and the pandemic restricted travel. Consequently, the Gulf Coast Fleet Fly-In was reimagined and was live streamed from Whiting. The NHA Awards were presented at the Fly-In with video clips from the presenters, the sponsors and the awardees. However, the virtual format often precluded the tangible aspect of the presentation. In other words, no plaque, certificate or trophy could be handed to the honoree. The 2020 Best Scribe was awarded to LT Elisha “Grudge” Clark for her article in Rotor Review 2019 Summer Issue #145 (page 42) for "EQ and CRM: How Emotional Intelligence Relates to the Crew Concept." Forward deployed at the time, she never received her plaque. This was remedied recently as LT Clark is now an IP at HSM 41. You can read the article online by visiting our digital magazine platform Issuu (https://issuu.com/rotorrev/ docs/rr145.summer.19.digital). If you have the Issuu App you can read it on your phone or tablet. It is a good read, well written, not community specific, and applies to pilots and aircrew alike.
The 2019 NHA Best Scribe Award was presented to LT Elisha “Grudge” Clark in HSM-41 Commanding Officer, CAPT Ken Colman’s office by NHA National President, CDR Emily Stellpflug.
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