Posted by
Ron Devito on Friday, July 23, 2010 6:59:49 AM
US 4
Palin "Fly Sarah from Wasilla to Washington" Campaign
"Sarah" is now in Duluth, MN
How to "Fly 'Sarah' from Wasilla to Washington"
There is no need to email us donation amounts or post them on
comments. As long as you donate through an US for Palin
graphic or hyperlink to the Sarah Palin Legal
Defense Fund, we'll know about it, whether it's on the US for Palin
site or a venue where its content is syndicated.
Let's help the Sarah Palin Legal
Defense Fund reach new heights and get Gov. Palin to Washington!
Farewell, Canada and Thank You
“OK ‘Sarah’…you have your passport and Customs form ready?” Laura
inquired as she pre-flighted the plane. “You betcha, ‘Sarah’” said,
fresh from electrifying the trade conference where she had just spoken.
Laura had accompanied “Sarah” to this speech and was still awed. The
pair would be leaving Winnipeg and finally re-entering the United States
and landing in Duluth, Minnesota. They agreed on a day flight, since
Duluth is a small airport – they would also be passing over the state’s
many lakes and the day promised good visibility. Having already gotten
the weather, filed the flight plan, they jumped in and Laura gave
“Sarah” her safety briefing, did the run-up and got her clearance.
The flight would leave the northwest facing runway, turn southeast,
climb to 5,000 feet, enter Minnesota, continue till just over Bemidji
Regional, then turn east passing over Grand Rapids, then to Duluth.
Re-Entering the United States
About 15 minutes – 30 miles from the border, Laura called the US
controller to advise that her flight would be crossing the border. She
zoomed the GPS in so “Sarah” could see the moment of passage. On July
21, at 3:31 CDT, the flight left Canada and re-entered the United
States. “Welcome back,” Laura said. “Sarah” smiled.
The flight passed the first of the many lakes the pair would be
seeing. “Sarah” could see dozens of them on the GPS, which had been
zoomed back out. “Guess that’s why they call Minnesota ‘the land of
10,000 lakes,’ she quipped, to which Laura added with some fake sarcasm
“Yep. The state has a couple.”
Pioneers 150 Years Ago - Today's Pioneers
The flight reached Bemidji Regional and turned east, the little
airport clearly visible below. As the flight turned, Laura and “Sarah”
discussed another Laura who was born in Walnut Grove
near the state’s southwestern corner – in 1867. Laura Ingalls-Wilder was
born to a pioneer family and authored
many books about her life in Minnesota, Kansas, and what was then
Dakota Territory. The TV series Little House on the
Prairie was based on Laura Ingalls-Wilder’s books. She was
also the subject of many biographies.
The mention was apropos. Alaska is known as the Final Frontier. Many
Alaskans would be considered today’s pioneers. “Alaska is what
America was,” says one friend who US for Palin’s publisher is in
routine contact with. Another is building a house over 200 miles north
of Wasilla, having cleared her own land. She stays armed on her property
to protect herself from bears that frequent the area. Indeed many of us
in the Lower 48 marvel at today’s living pioneer personified in “Sarah”
– the kind of leader we also have not seen in 150 years – someone who
leads by example. Indeed "Sarah's" parents fulfilled their Manifest
Destiny when they left Sandpoint, ID for Skagway, AK. Laura mentioned
the irony that now, "Sarah's" Manifest Destiny - was east.
Land of 10,000 Lakes
Between Bemidji and Grand Rapids, the flight passed over dozens of
small lakes. “Sarah” and Laura marveled at their beauty.
Clouds formed beneath them, but dissipated in about 10 minutes.
Passing Grand Rapids marked the beginning of the journey’s end. Laura
was instructed to fly north of Duluth. Some puffer clouds were visible
to the right, as the flight approached Lake Superior.
Lake Superior
Out over Lake Superior, the flight turned south, then west to begin
the approach to Duluth’s west-facing runway.
Go Around!
A Beech Baron was landing ahead of them and another flight was
sequenced behind them. Laura was flying a normal approach speed, but had
a feeling it was a bit fast. “I think we’re going around, ‘Sarah.’” She
saw that “Sarah” was sitting back anyway – she did not want the force
of her acceleration snapping “Sarah’s” body back into the seat – even
though they had their belts on for the whole flight.
The plane was just above decision height when the controller barked,
“N012SP - Go around!” The Baron had not cleared the runway. Laura took
one last look to check on her passenger, and powered back up. Laura let
her own body snap back - for her it was a big hoot. On the climb and
now flying southeast, “Sarah” and Laura could see the rising moon.
They went back out over Lake Superior, turned north, then back west
to re-do the approach.
Welcome (Back) to the United States
The runway beckoned, and Laura made a perfect landing, and taxied to
the Customs Building, to pass Immigration and Customs. Having done that,
Laura then re-positioned the plane to General Aviation parking.
“Sarah” is now 2330 miles from Wasilla and more than two thirds of
the way to Reagan National. The next flight will take her to LaCrosse,
Wisconsin, and the following one to Peoria for a significant speech at
Eureka College.
If you enjoyed this journey, please sponsor it by
donating to the Sarah Palin Legal
Defense Fund
Last year, the Alaska Fund Trust was established to raise money to
defend Gov. Palin against frivolous ethics complaints and lawsuits that
were filed against her in a coordinated effort to drive her out of
office. On
June 24, 2010, the Alaska Fund Trust was replaced by Sarah Palin Legal
Defense Fund. Those of you who donated to the Alaska Fund Trust will
be receiving refunds within 90 days from June 24. You will have the
option to re-donate these funds to the new Sarah Palin Legal
Defense Fund, which is the official, and legitimate fund now in
existence. Please re-donate those funds to the Sarah Palin Legal
Defense Fund.