I got a call from the school nurse saying that Kevin was upset after lunch.  She said that it was not an allergy and that, if he did not develop a fever, he could return the next day.  She said that she would keep him in her office until the bus was able to take him home.

I said I wouild pick him up right away.  I didn't say that it would give us an earlier start on our trip to Midway Airport.

I asked him where he wanted to go to eat dinner after the airport.  He said he would just want to go home.

But that would be after, not before.  He knows that flag-holding is serious business and there was never any suggestion that he might not go to Midway.  Then he slept through the rest of the drive.

We met Betinna and her two children in the parking lot.  I had met her and Eddie at the proclamation reading.  Saran, Crispy's friend, waited with her mom while we three went to the Men's room.

I don't usually take photos in there, but this time I did.

Kevin was asked to get a flag so the group could say the Pledge of Allegiance.

I got a group photo and then we went right into the breifing.

Dave spoke of flag-holding protocol and used Kevin as a good example.

Most sick nine-year-olds would be home with the X-Box and soup.

A little flag-holding will cure almost anything.

At the breifing we had another fine prayer by Michael McVeigh, a.k.a. "Doc".

John Azoo awarded Kevin a Warriors Watch challenge coin.

And the cure was complete.

Bettina, Eddie and Saran stood with Deb Pyznarski across the hanger from us.

A friend of the 713th.

And then it was time to travel the 40 miles through the dark and cold night.

Kevin and Ro were glad to see each other again.

As were Matt and Ro.

and a second motorcycle

and a third

and a fourth.  Really, not bad for a Chicago winter ride.

Kevin and I would not make the trip to Aurora.  Like the people on this bus, we just waited for the procession to depart and then we would go about our business.

While Kevin went to our car, I climbed aboard the bus and explained who they were waiting for.  I concluded, "God Bless Christopher Patterson!"

One of the passengers, a woman, returned, "God Bless America!"

I asked Kevin again if he were hungry.  "Starved!" he said.  We stopped at a restaurant on the way home.

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