The group picture is of the first Hoosier Honor Flight on 12 November 2008. Behind us is the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC.

Fifty-five people: thirty-nine WWII veterans, one Korean War veteran who had a terminal illness, and fifteen volunteer guardians. Every person in this picture gave of themselves to serve others. Most risked their lives in a war which easily could have ended much differently. We owe them our freedom.

Every WWII veteran in this picture served with others for a cause greater than themselves, the survival of the United States, and won.

That’s our expectation for members of Congress: serve with others for a cause greater than themselves, the survival of the United States. The jury is still out.

The picture to the left of “JOHN TILFORD” is me at Land’s End a few years ago – and I don’t mean the clothing catalog. It’s intended as a visual metaphor for our current Congress: “If you keep going the wrong way you’ll fall off a cliff!”