Jr. Patriot Report

by John Stumpner

You may sometimes wonder why you have to learn history. After all, that stuff all happened a long time ago and doesn’t affect us, right? Wrong. One of the ways we use history is to be able to follow the examples of the great men and women of history and learn from their mistakes and triumphs. One of these people was a man from Wisconsin named General Billy Mitchell.

General Mitchell was the son of a prominent Milwaukee family during the late 1800’s. He joined the army in 1898 and quickly was made an officer. He became interested in airplanes, even paying for his own flying lessons. As he rose through the ranks he tried, whenever he could, to get the army and navy to see the value of airplanes and air power. He even accused the “top brass” in the army and navy of treason for ignoring the possible usefulness of airplanes.

Although he did not live to see the results, his efforts to encourage the use of military air power helped prepare the United States for the Second World War. On the ocean, airplanes were used to attack and sink ships and submarines. On land, airplanes were used to wreck weapons factories and the trains carrying military supplies, as well as to attack enemy troops. General Mitchell has been remembered in many ways. He is often referred to as the father of the modern United States Air Force. Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee is named after him. Even the first airplane to bomb Japan in the Second World War, the B25 Mitchell, was named after General Mitchell.

Not unlike General Mitchell, the members of ABATE of Wisconsin work tirelessly for what we believe in, freedom of the road. As part of these efforts, members of ABATE work to make sure the rules and policies made by our elected officials don’t hurt motorcyclists. We also work to help make the roads safer for everyone by working with the government, providing training for motorcyclists, and doing Share the Road presentations to non-motorcycling roadway users. ABATE sometimes “steps on a few toes” in the process of preserving our freedoms, but in the end, the results are always good. Hopefully, by learning a little history and following the examples of the leaders in ABATE of Wisconsin, you too will be able to help preserve your rights and freedoms.