An Old Friend - The Jet

For 37 years we had a view of the F -11 Tiger Jet as we traveled Dr. M L King Jr. Blvd. It was painted as a Marine Aircraft in those years. If you traveled from the mall area to downtown it was there to remind you of the close ties between New Bern and the Marines stationed at Cherry Point.

Photo by Nan Griffin Barker

Recently Swiss Bear and the community had the jet restored and painted in Blue Angels colors. The jet served as the Solo plane on that team's 1966-67 season. Now when I travel from my home in Bridgeton to New Bern, I will see the Tiger fully restored on a pedestal at Lawson Creek Park. It will be a constant reminder of the affection and appreciation New Bernians have for members of our Armed Services.

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North Carolina folks are the best.

I went to photograph a clients home yesterday. When I got there I found they had moved another family into their home. A mother and two young children had their home damaged by the tornado. Both families' fathers are deployed defending our nation. My client wants to sell and always has her home immaculate. You would think she would avoid the hassle of having two extra kids and one adult in her home. There was no hesitation. She did what she could to help out her neighbor.

This morning I read the Sun Journal article about Trader Construction. I went to work for Trader 41 years ago this June. It was a great place to work. I spent my school vacations during high school and college digging foundations, pouring concrete, hanging steel and driving dump trucks. It was a great education while I was pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering. The folks working there always seemed like family. They took care of their own. This week the company jumped in with men and equipment to help a nearby neighborhood. They responded to a call from County Commissioner Steve Tyson. Steve was out in the field accessing the damage and had plans to raise money to help the neighborhood. He called Trader for an estimate and the estimate turned into a donation.

Many of our community regularly help those trying to recover from disasters. Teams have gone to Louisiana, Mississippi and Haiti. We have great neighbors. I love North Carolina folks.