Day 49, 21 September: Archbold, OH
Another rest day, and a very special one in several ways.
First, we are staying at the Heritage Inn in Historic Sauder Village, a definite step up for us. The inn is very comfortable, and the Doughbox Bakery on the property features not only the excellent pie we had yesterday but also the most enormous cinnamon rolls I’ve ever seen.
The village was the creation of Erie Sauder, a woodworker who built a number of businesses from his initial woodshop and wanted to create a setting for people, especially young people, to learn about how things were done and built in earlier times. It features a number of historically accurate workshops and other buildings from the 19th and early 20th century that have been moved here and restored with attendants in period dress explaining the crafts and businesses.
There’s a museum, general store, small-gauge railroad and even a Lutheran church. I stopped in and heard a little about the church’s history including its 100-plus-year-old organ. The lady then said, “I do play – is there a favorite hymn you’d like to hear?” Of course! As a result, I got to record my own personal performance of the Navy Hymn, which we played at quarters.
Quarters was doubly special. We honored Brian Cardiff, my First Company mate and in many ways the heart of the company. And we were joined by Brian’s sister Mary Jo Lawson and her husband Jan from their home nearby. It was great to see her after so many years. They reside in Navarre, FL most of the time, but Jan owns a Van’s RV-12 homebuilt aircraft which they use to travel and visit here. It’s painted up in vintage Air Force trainer colors (he’s ex-USAF), but with several touches honoring Brian and his squadron, VA-85.
Brian was lost in a midair collision between his A-6E and an EA-6B in the Mediterranean in 1975. He was our company’s first loss and the second operational loss for the class after graduation. My tribute borrowed heavily from Conrad Donahue’s comments at our company memorial service for Brian, Mark Wheeler and Kurt Rohrkemper in 2000. He captured better than I ever could what Brian did for him and all of us. Mary Jo attached Brian’s tag to the chain, which is rapidly becoming filled with the memories of our classmates.
Jim Lash departed after quarters, and Jan and Mary Jo left after treating us to dinner for the second night in a row. We are overwhelmed by the support and generosity of these folks who have come out of their way to see us.
5 more states to go – hard to believe it’s getting close. Doug spent the evening trying to finalize arrangements with ’83 for the last day to Annapolis. Hopefully we’ll have things firmed up very soon. Onward!
Bill Montgomery
USNA 1973 Ride-2-Remember 
Leave a comment