A hometown report from Washington, Pennsylvania features the family of Lt. Jeffrey Abbadini, a Navy pilot serving on the USS Kitty Hawk, and talks about the srong support by family and local veterans for our military.
Donna and Joe Abbadini joined family members, veterans and residents Saturday at a rally to show support for their son and members of the U.S. military fighting in Iraq. Despite blustery winds and rain, the rally on the steps of Washington County Courthouse drew about 100 flag-waving supporters many with yellow ribbons pinned to shirts and hats. The prevailing sentiment among those in attendance is that Americans need to support the troops regardless of their feelings about the war.
The Fresno Bee reports that the Cochran family has two Navy pilots in their thoughts: Daniel Cochran, flying from the Kitty Hawk, and Christopher Cochran, on board the USS Abraham Lincoln.
From Pearl Harbor to present-day Iraq -- more than six decades -- Cochran men have fought wars in the Navy, while their wives waited for their return. Both of Christopher's grandfathers were in World War II. His father, De Ford, left his mother for the Vietnam War right after they were married in summer 1967. All of their marriages endured.
In Kent, Wash., De Ford Cochran said he does not worry about Christopher, though Charlene, his wife of 35 years, admits to a bit of anxiety about her son. De Ford and Charlene have eight children, including seven sons. Christopher is not their only child in combat. Another son, Daniel, is flying an F/A-18 from the USS Kitty Hawk. "I sleep well at night," De Ford said. "They're well-trained, and they're in a pretty good spot in those F-18s."
Posted by Alan at March 31, 2003 11:57 AM