One week down!

One week down, only 56 to go! No, I'm not going to count off every week here, but it's a good starting place. Let's see, we watched "the take-off" on October 6th at 7 a.m., a very exciting and proud moment. Watch the Channel 3 video and see Chris wave and salute from the pilot seat in the 10th (last) helicopter when the camera pans back. After all the anxious moments and build up, we were finally at the moment of departure, and when they took off into the rising sun, it seemed all right.

After they took off, they turned left at Scottsdale Road and McDowell and flew up to north Scottsdale to buzz a hospital where one of their fellow pilots was recovering from surgery. He was very upset at not being able to go with them. Chris' helicopter came in over the hospital lower than the others, just to let him know they were serious about the fly by. Along the way, our friend Suzy Dodds was waving from St. Daniel church parking lot with a bus load of new friends and paper letters taped to the top of their van: ZAPS "heart" CHRIS. Another great Suzy adventure! As the helicopters flew over Santa Fe, Chris texted Fr. John Bethancourt to say "hi."

Since then, it's been one exciting day after the next for Chris. Maybe he'll tell us about his new friends Popsicle, Corporal Shortround IV and Staff Sgt Big Deuce VI.

ls