Greetings to all, Those of you that have been reading my e mails are aware that the president elect, Charlie Morton, passed away on December 17 th.

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1 Greetings to all, Those of you that have been reading my e mails are aware that the president elect, Charlie Morton, passed away on December 17 th. His position as president of the Grey Eagles had to be filled and the Board of Directors met in Dallas on December 9 th for their annual winter board meeting. At that meeting,, the current secretary, was nominated and unanimously approved as the President of the Grey Eagles. His position as secretary will be filled for the balance of the year by the former secretary. That would be me. Although the circumstances are extraordinary, a situation never before encountered by the Grey Eagles, the transition to new jobs for both of us should be seamless since Bob has extensive board experience and I have already been the secretary. This newsletter will continue as it did for the three years I previously held the position of secretary. Your understanding of any delays or abbreviated issues is greatly appreciated. INDEX *The S. FL Luncheon The Waterway Café as usual so get out there and attend! *The BNA Luncheon Piccadilly Cafeteria this Thursday. How about coming out to see your webmaster! *The NE FL. Luncheon HighJackers, next Wednesday. Be there! *The NJ/PA Luncheon Also next Wednesday. It won t be as warm but we have more fun! Check it out! *The PHX Luncheon Next Thursday at Maggiano s Little Italy. Get out there and enjoy yourself! *Erik H. Vettegren, Jr Grey Eagle bad news. *David S. Graben Grey Eagle bad news. *Charles L. Smith Grey Eagle bad news. *Grover Stewart Grey Eagle bad news. *Robert L. Donnell Grey Eagle bad news. *Richard E. Yoder Grey Eagle bad news. *Mary Lou Rutty Grey Eagle spouse bad news. *Beverly Hopper Grey Eagle spouse bad news. *Six Deaths Grey Eagle widow bad news. *Charles T. Smith, Jr Non Grey Eagle bad news. *Bueil Chafin Non Grey Eagle bad news. *Soaring Eagles New website. *Billy Goat Ruffians Farmers Insurance TV commercial. *The Shepherd A Canadian Christmas tradition. *New Year's Resolution Dogs Well, we all have goials! *Flight to The Boneyard Aboard the last flight. *AA The new Premium Economy on the Boeing *Furkids The official kitty kommercial. *Taking on Tesla 2018 Faraday Future FF 91. *Formula E Not exactly F 1 but a game changer! *History The first scheduled commercial passenger flight. *LGA Pilots view, landing at LaGuardia Expressway to 31 *Honda A self balancing bike? THE SOUTH FLORIDA LUNCHEON When: Wednesday, January 11, AM (2 nd Wednesday of the month, as usual) Where: The Waterway Café 2300 PGA Boulevard Palm Beach Gardens, FL

2 Happy New Year to all! Best wishes for We will be having our first luncheon of the New Year on Wednesday the 11 th of Jan at The Waterway Café on PGA Blvd. Pre departure beverages at 11:30 with lunch to follow. Please get the word out. Richard K. Maurer THE BNA LUNCHEON When: Thursday, January 12, :00 am (second Thursday of the month) Where: Piccadilly Cafeteria 874 Murfreesboro Pike Nashville, TN Reservations: Dale K. Johnson Area Coordinator Ladies and guests are invited! Join us and bring a friend! THE NE FLORIDA LUNCHEON WHEN: WHERE: Wednesday, January 18, (third Wednesday of the month, as usual) HighJackers (at Flagler County Airport Rt. 100 Exit 1 mile west of I 95 just south of Palm Coast) 202 Airport Road Palm Coast, FL ( ( (If you want info about the airport) THE NJ/PA LUNCHEON WHEN WHERE Wednesday, January 18, :30 warm up, 12:30 check ride. The Original Mulligans 203 Squankum Road Farmingdale, NJ Reservations: Gary Yudell //e mail: gybigguy@aol.com We are back at Mulligans for January. The Holiday soiree was a great success and my thanks to all of you that were able to join us. We will back at Mulligans for January and then Erini in February. Come on out and see everyone! THE PHX LUNCHEON WHEN WHERE Thursday, January 19, pm (third Thursday of the month, as usual) Maggiano s Little Italy N. Scottsdale Road (corner of Scottsdale Rd. & Frank Lloyd Wright) Scottsdale, AZ 85254

3 n scottsdale rd/ The restaurant provides free valet parking. Lunch is ordered directly from the menu and payment is made directly to Maggiano s. All pilots, F/E s, F/A s friends, spouses and widows are invited. You don t have to be a member of the Grey Eagles to attend! No reservations are necessary. For more information, contact Bob Mangam at his NEW ADDRESS: 6003 Royal Point Court Kingwood, TX (cell) Or call Al Massimi at I regret to inform you of the death on December 16, 2016, of Grey Eagle #3194, Erik H. Vettegren, Jr. We received a copy of the e mail below to Herb Dabelow from Erik's ex wife: Dear Herb, I was given your by David Webb, a long time friend of myself and my ex husband, Erik Vettergren. Erik passed away on Dec. 16 at the age of 77. He retired in 1999 as a 767 captain based in Chicago. Before that he was a check airman in ORD and DFW as both types in the school house and on the line. He started his flying career in 1967 based in New York where he spent most of his career. He suffered a brain hemorrhage from a fall and his burial will be in the spring at Arlington National Cemetery. He was a graduate of the Air Force Academy and went on to serve his country in Vietnam from Herb, I was not informed personally by his family but was forwarded an that stated it could be forwarded to anyone. David agreed that I should inform Grey Eagles as Erik had many friends with American and they would appreciate knowing. Erik took tremendous pride in his job as a pilot and in wearing his uniform. If you would like direct contact with his son I will forward his . Sincerely and sadly, Kathy Wiltsie GE# 3194 Vettergren, Erik H., Jr. EmpNo DOB:5/4/1939 DOD: 12/16/2016 Age: 77 No obituary, family information or service details was available

4 I regret to inform you of the death on January 1, 2017, of Grey Eagle #2762, David S. Graben. The notification came from Frank Strickler and is quoted below: DFW Capt. Dave Stanley Graben (AA #041085) passed away in the Decatur, TX Regional Hospital ICU on Apparently from complications from an earlier surgery. Family members were present when Life support was withdrawn. Dave came to AAL after USAF service over Viet Nam, remained in AF Reserve finally retiring as full Colonel in the Air National Guard. He was a most dedicated Check Airman and was well known for "helping." After AA retirement in 1997 he flew professionally in the corporate world, was an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner and owned several small airplanes himself. His son is a serving AA Captain. This from the Wise County Messenger of Jan. 03. "FUNERALS No service is scheduled for David S. Graben, 79, of Rhome. Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur is handling arrangements." Hawkins advises interment information pending. Son Steve advises there will be a Celebration of Life event/fly in on with details pending. Frank GE #2762 Graben, David S. EmpNo DOB: 3/31/1937 DOD: 1/1/2017 Age: 79 I learned of the death on February 21, 1999 of Grey Eagle #698, Charles L. Smith. I do not have an employee number. He was 90 years old at that time and had been retired since the 60's. His wife, Doris is also deceased and will be reported separately. Sadly I learned of the death on April 21, 2002, of Grey Eagle #590, Grover Stewart, EmpNo The link to his obituary is: bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&grid= His wife, Carolyn, is also deceased and will be reported separately.

5 I learned of the death on March 18, 2010 of Grey Eagle #1680, Robert L. Donnell, EmpNo unknown. Leo Donnell He is survived by his wife, Mary, but the time since his death would make condolences inappropriate. I learned of the death on August 26, 2000 of Grey Eagle #1099, Richard E. Yoder, EmpNo The link to his obituary is: 08/ The obit points out that he flew Adlai Stevenson during that gentleman's presidential campaigns. I regret to inform you of the death on November 30, 2016 of Mary Lou Rutty, wife of Grey Eagle #2201, John Rutty. The link to her obituary is: Condolences may be sent to John at: 312 Lovely Lane Cross Keys Village New Oxford, PA I regret to inform you of the sudden death on December 28, 2016, of Beverly Hopper, wife of Grey Eagle #2552, Jimmie Hopper, EmpNo Condolences may be sent to Jimmie at: Aceituno Street, San Diego, CA (H) (760) (C) flyjim38@yahoo.com Here is the preliminary information from Jimmie on services: We finalized the plans yesterday.services will be held at the Rancho Bernardo Country Club on January 28th, starting at 1100 for the church service. Her minister will travel there and after the church service a buffet luncheon service with cocktails will be served. If possible would like to get a rough idea of numbers attending (a WAG) will do so the catering service can plan accordingly. Flowers are being handled through Four Seasons Flowers (CarmaWhite owner) at Penquitos. Rooms available at RB Inn which is adjacent to the CC and I think we will block rooms at the Hilton which is about a mile further away. More details to follow.

6 I have been updating our database and learned of the deaths of these Grey Eagles ladies: Ann Bantle, widow of Grey Eagle #313, Harry Bantle, EmpNo died on October 16, Mary Belmont, widow of Grey Eagle #2195, Dick Belmont, EmpNo died on August 8, Dorothy Becker, widow of Grey Eagle #532, George Becker, EmpNo died on March 25, Jean Blanton, widow of Grey Eagle #772, Ira Blanton, EmpNo died on December 9, Doris Smith, widow of Grey Eagle #698 Charles L. Smith, EmpNo unknown, died on January 11, 2008 Carolyn Stewart, widow of Grey Eagle #590, Grover Stewart, EmpNo died on March 3, I regret to inform you of the death on December 15, 2016, of Charles T. Smith, Jr. He was not a Grey Eagle but some of you may have known him. I believe this link is to his obituary: T. Smith I regret to inform you of the death on December 8, 2016 of Bueil Chafin. He was not a Grey Eagle but some of you may have known him. The link to his obituary is: Chafin&lc=1895&pid= &mid= We would like to make you aware of the Soaring Eagles recently opened website. usairsoaringeagles.org The website is intended to exhibit memories of all the airlines that became U S Airways and to post notices of interest to our membership. If you have good photographs we would like to consider them for publishing on the website. The website is in addition to and a supporter of the Aerie Publication. Also, your Board of Directors asks you to please consider participating at the 2017 Soaring Eagles Convention in Tampa October 27, 28 and 29th. Start making plans now and help us make this a great get together. Encourage another Eagle to attend. Our scheduled speaker for the 2017 convention will be Seth Butch" Schofield. Don t miss this opportunity to visit with our former Chairman. Thank You, Gerald Milburn Gerald Gerry Milburn President The Soaring Eagles of U S Airways

7 Farmers Insurance TV Commercial, 'Hall of Claims: Billy Goat Ruffians' insurance hall of claims billy goat ruffians?autoplay=1 THE SHEPHERD Every year on Christmas Eve, Canadians from sea to sea turn out the lights, gather round their radios and listen to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's presentation of Frederick Forsyth's enduring ghost story, The Shepherd. Follow this link to learn more. New Year's Resolution Dogs Video Compilation Aboard the last flight to an airplane 'boneyard' flight to boneyard/ An Inside Look at American Airlines Brand New Premium Economy on the Boeing look american airlines brand new premiumeconomy boeing 787 9/ Official Furkids Kitty Kommercial F_8qaQ3DD0&feature=youtu.be First Look: 2018 Faraday Future FF 91 has big dreams of taking on Tesla, but a long way to go faraday future ff 91 preview article What is Formula E? Everything you need to know and why it will change the world lint.com/news/ what is formula e everything you need to know and why it willchange the world History Hour: First scheduled commercial passenger flight you know/16283 history hour first scheduled commercial passengerflight Pilots view, landing at LaGuardia Expressway to Honda's self balancing bike self balancing bike stands alone.html I think that is all for now so have a great week and I ll get back to you next week. Have fun, get out to those luncheons, take your wife or SO out to dinner and always remember HEY, BE CAREFUL OUT THERE! Best regards, Gary