Presidential Memorial Certificate

This is the Presidential Memorial Certificate which was sent to me by President Clinton upon the occasion of my Father's death on September 24th, 1999. It reads as follows: "The United States of America honors the memory of Howard E. Goodwin---This certificate is awarded by a grateful nation in recognition of devoted and selfless consecration to the service of our country in the Armed Forces of the United States."
My Father was a member of the "Greatest Generation," as coined by Tom Brokaw in his best-selling book. The men and women who fought against the Nazis and Japanese fascists in World War II saved the world from tyranny. He was a United States Army Air Corps flight engineer on one of the original B-29 bombers. The bomber was named "Old Battler," and flew 44 missions over the "hump," and 35 missions over the Japanese empire. For his service he recieved the Distinguished Flying Cross and other decorations. I shall never forget him and his comrades who served with valor and dedication during the darkest days of the 20th century.