Clear on Top

This year was the first time I’ve attended the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) annual convention.   I thought I knew what to expect…. lots of people, lots of booths, lots of walking, but as I passed through the doors and stepped inside the convention hall, I felt like Ralphie standing outside Higbees Department store right before Christmas, drooling over a Red Ryder BB gun…..Yes mom, I know….. I’ll shoot my eye out!  Everywhere I turned, my senses were bombarded by the sights and sounds of various marketing departments vying for my attention.   …Wait a second; is that the Cirque Du Soleil girl doing acrobatics from a curtain?  Not sure what that has to do with aviation, but don’t you think we should go ask her?

Now before my wife gets the wrong impression and starts thinking that my “big important business trip” was actually just three days of shenanigans, let me say that it was actually a very productive trip.  I met some of the best and brightest professionals in the aviation industry, and I was able to view and sample the latest technology making its’ way into our cockpits.

The highlight of my trip actually had nothing to do with aviation though.  It occurred as I was walking past one of the booths and my eye caught a sign stating that Dakota Meyer would be there that day.  For those of you who do not know who Dakota Meyer is, he is the first United States Marine since Vietnam to receive the Medal of Honor and live to tell the tale.  He recently published a book which details the battle, “Into the Fire: A Firsthand Account of the Most Extraordinary Battle in the Afghan War.”  The most striking part of my conversation with Sergeant Meyer was just how incredibly humble he was.  Throughout a six hour battle, this Marine repeatedly fought his way through an ambush to save the lives of 36 men, and recovered the bodies of 4 fallen brothers.  To hear him talking about it, he doesn’t feel that he did anything special though; it was just the right thing to do.  It was special though, and Sergeant Meyer’s superhuman actions should be a source of pride for his fellow Marines and all others who have served in the United States military.  Happy Veterans Day.  Thank you for serving our country.

If you would like more information about Jason Shaffer with CS&A Aviation Insurance, please visit his bio page on AviationInsurance.com or call him at 800.999.1109.