Capitol Monitor ....
Congressman J. Randy Forbes, Fourth District of Virginia 

September 8, 2006

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In this Issue:

1. The Red Baron

2. Thank you

 

 

:: The Red Baron ::  



 

Many of us grew up in the age when we learned of Baron Manfred von Richthofen in Charles Schulz's Peanuts comic strip rather than on the battlefield. Every couple of Sundays we’d open the paper to Charlie Brown’s precocious beagle Snoopy dreaming of shooting down the Red Baron and writing his memoirs of the glorious fight. The successful comic strip story line would later go on to be a cartoon set to music that many of us could still hum today: Ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty or more; The Bloody Red Baron was rollin' up the score; Eighty men died tryin' to end that spree; of the Bloody Red Baron of Germany!

Only later did we learn the historical story of the infamous German airplane fighter that lived during our parent’s generation. During World War I, Manfred von Richthofen was a skilled pilot in Imperial Germany’s military. By April of 1917, Richthofen had shot down 21 enemy aircraft, more than any German pilot before him. And as the Baron’s success grew, so too did his pride in his achievement. To celebrate each of his victories, the Red Baron would purchase a silver trophy engraved with details of the kill to collect along with hand-picked souvenirs from the wreckage sites.

With time, Richthofen craved the public recognition that his personal trophy collection could not afford him. With an arrogant boldness, Richthofen painted his plane bright red, making it a literal target in the sky. For Richthofen, each new kill held a thrill. And with each goal met, a new and bigger goal seemed just within reach. Shooting down plane after plane, the young German’s achievements made him both a hero to his people and a propaganda tool for Imperial Germany.

As Richthofen's fame spread rapidly throughout the world, numerous names developed for the feared fighter pilot – the Red Devil, the Red Knight, the Bloody Baron or most commonly the Red Baron. Wild rumors sprang up about the feared enemy. Morale soared in his unit and among the ranks of Germans across Europe.

On April 21, 1918, the day after the Red Baron had shot down his 80th enemy aircraft, Manfred von Richthofen boarded his bright red airplane to confront several British aircraft near the war front. Once in the air, Richthofen quickly set his sights on a single airplane headed out of the air fight. Inside the fleeing plane was a young Lieutenant, who, having discovered his guns were jammed, was quickly exiting the battle scene.

Richthofen swiftly honed in on the easy target. Locking in on the inexperienced pilot, the skilled Red Baron pursued him singularly. Flying close to the mountainous terrain, skimming over the trees, it was quickly apparent that the young Lieutenant would stand no chance against the skilled Red Baron…and, in a split second, the plane was barreling towards the ground below.

But it wasn’t the British plane that went down that day. Instead, the blaze red of Richthofen’s plane was seen spiraling to the ground in defeat.

So focused on his enemy, what Richthofen hadn’t noticed was a second British plane that had broken from skirmish to rush to the aide of his comrade. Swiftly approaching from the Red Baron’s rear, unnoticed by the overly focused Richthofen, the plane approached and with ease sent a single bullet through the chest of the famed Red Baron killing him instantly.

That day the Germans lost a skilled pilot, a hero to their people, and a symbol of their strength. Many Germans would go on to lament how much more the Red Baron would had been worth to the embattled Germans had he just pulled up his plane that day – had he just been able to let go of his prey. Germany would go on to lose the war. And with time the legend of the Red Baron would fade into a fable of his demise and the subject of a cartoon dog’s daydream of glory.

This week as I traveled back to Washington D.C., I pondered how the fate of the Red Baron is not so unlike the fate of many partisans in Washington. Like the Red Baron, many come to Washington skilled at their trade, proud to serve their county and anxious for results. But with time many become emboldened by power, and with each political victory they become more brazen and their appetite for prestige and position becomes insatiable.

Many in Washington are locked in just as Richthofen was in pursuit of the fleeing plane. Their sights are singularly set on destroying a political enemy, increasing their numbers in the polls, or shifting public opinion with talking points. But with blinders on, the immediate dangers around them go unnoticed
the security threat of an immigration system gone sickeningly wrong – the quiet danger of terrorism drowned out by a 24-hour news cycle – the rising costs of health care eating away at the pocketbooks of Americans and seriously jeopardizing our health care system, to name a few.

Often, the underlying cause of this tunnel vision is arrogance. In Washington D.C., this arrogance stems from the belief that the view from the beltway offers a better plan for America’s future than the view from the hearts and eyes of Americans. This is inherently false. How much more could Congress accomplish if their focus was not on themselves and the other party but on the needs of the nation and those they represent! How much more could be accomplished if each public servant searched for compromise consistent with their values and beliefs rather than letting political bargaining and partisanship obscure their view!

But as was the case with the Red Baron’s final flight, the political targets which many so passionately pursue
the targets which many feel they must pursue are not indeed the fatal enemy. And in the end, despite all his trophies, despite his brightly colored plane, and despite his fear-inspiring slogans, we all know the fate that met the Red Baron.
 

:: Thank you ::

 

Even the most seasoned firefighter cannot imagine the panic and helplessness that existed that day. The attacks on September 11, 2001 made each of us feel fearful and afraid of what might happen next. Nevertheless, firefighters and law enforcement personnel began the rescue work when the first call rang, before the attacks even had a known source. Amidst the danger and debris these brave rescue workers climbed stairs as office workers clamored down, only to never make it out of the building.

But as a result of the senseless attacks, Americans found a renewed sense of patriotism. American flags began to fly not just from flagpoles, but they appeared in windows, on doors and vehicles. Just hours after the attacks, men, women and children all across the country held vigils and waved flags showing support for those who lost their lives. The terrorists took many lives and caused our nation to grieve, but through that grief Americans rose up and refused to let those terrorists take away their spirit and love of America.

Terrorists may have shaken the foundations of some of our biggest buildings but they also awakened the senses from deep inside the heart of America. That heart refuses to be shattered. To fire, rescue and law enforcement personnel in Virginia's Fourth District and around the nation – you are living proof of that unwavering heart. As you stand in your uniform, answer to the call of the pager when another emergency occurs and continually commit your self to be a part of that team, you stand in the face of terror and perform your duties, unwavering. On the fifth anniversary of September 11, we take this opportunity to say, "Thank you."  

 



ON THE HILL ....

Current Floor Proceedings

Bills Coming Up This Week

Monthly Whip Calendar

OFFICE LOCATIONS ....

307 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
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Chesapeake, VA 23320
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804.526.4969

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Emporia, VA 23847
434.634.5575

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