Link Ahead with the City of Dublin, Ohio
Link Ahead with the City of Dublin, Ohio
Memorial Day With Meaning. Meet Dublin's Keynote Speaker Col. Andrew Powers
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Memorial Day can look like cookouts and a long weekend, but the truth underneath it is far more demanding. We invited Colonel Andrew Powers, Commander of the 121st Air Refueling Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard and keynote speaker for Dublin’s Memorial Day Ceremony, to talk about what the day is meant to honor: Americans who died in military service, and the responsibility we carry when we remember them well.
Colonel Powers shares the recent loss of six service members in an aircraft crash, including three airmen from his wing. We talk about who they were as people, what it means to lead a unit through grief while the mission continues worldwide, and why supporting the families of the fallen must be measured in years, not days. If you’ve ever struggled to put words to military sacrifice, this conversation offers language that feels honest and grounded.
We also go inside the mission many Central Ohio residents may not realize operates right here at Rickenbacker: the KC-135 Stratotanker and the critical role of aerial refueling. From global power projection to humanitarian response, the 121st supports far more than fuel, including aeromedical evacuation, base defense, logistics, and medical readiness. We close with reflections on national resilience as America approaches its 250th birthday and a reminder that freedom is never guaranteed without each generation choosing to protect it.
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Welcome And Why Memorial Day Matters
SPEAKER_03Hello and welcome to Link Ahead. Today we are talking about Memorial Day, its meaning, its history, and the service and sacrifice behind it with someone who knows that responsibility firsthand. But first, joining us today is Shirley Blaine, communications strategist for the City of Dublin, who's filling in for Bruce today. Shirley, thanks for being here. And coming from a military family yourself, you bring a personal connection to today's conversation. Thank you, Lindsay. I'm so glad to be here and be part of this important conversation. And now joining us is Colonel Andrew Powers, commander of the 121st Air Refueling Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard, and this year's keynote speaker at Dublin's Memorial Day ceremony, uh, here in Dublin at Dublin Ceremony. Colonel Powers, welcome to Link Ahead. Thanks for being here.
SPEAKER_00Thank you. Thank you very much. I appreciate the invitation uh to be here with you today to talk a little bit about Memorial Day and about the 121st and the great things that that our airmen do around the world every day.
SPEAKER_03Absolutely. Before we talk about this year's ceremony, uh let's start with Memorial Day. It's a national holiday uh remembering Americans who died in military service. But today it's often viewed as you know, that start of summer, a day for cookouts and barbecues and time with family. From your perspective as a military leader, talk about the deeper meaning of Memorial Day and why it's important.
The Deeper Meaning Beyond The Holiday
SPEAKER_00Sure. You know, I I think it is important to note that you know the that unofficial start to summer is important. It's part of our national fabric. And that's okay. You know, that's fine. A lot of people are like, oh, you know, this is Memorial Day, you know. Sure. Um but Memorial Day, to your point, is really about um honoring uh with dignity and respect those who have recognized something about our great nation, you know, something about uh our our country, our the freedoms we enjoy, the American way of life, who've decided that it is worth protecting, it is worth safeguarding so that future generations can enjoy that same thing and who have gone off to do our nation's business and and made the ultimate sacrifice and did not return. So that is the the cornerstone founding uh you know of Memorial Day uh and and really the focus that
Remembering Three Fallen Ohio Airmen
SPEAKER_00we want to get after.
SPEAKER_01Aaron Powell Yes, and sadly, this um day hits especially close to home this year. Um recently the Ohio Air National Guard lost three airmen in Iraq. Would you be willing to share a little bit about who they were and what they meant to you and your unit?
SPEAKER_00Sure, sure. Uh you know, there were there were six total killed, uh, three of them were ours. Captain Seth Coval, Captain Curtis Angst, and Master Sergeant Tyler Simmons. Uh three outstanding Americans, really the the the best of who we are. Um they were along with Major Alex Clinner, uh, Major Ariana Savino, and Tech Sergeant Ashley Pruitt, who all six were were in that aircraft uh that crashed. Um again, all great Americans, you know, that made that choice to stand up and and to serve our nation, to safeguard those ideals and the principles that make our nation great. Um, for R3, for for Seth and Curtis and Ty, um, they had each of them had been in the wing for quite some time. Um, you know, all all basically at least eight to ten years. Uh in Seth's case, he started his military journey about 20 years ago in the Indiana Air National Guard, uh, and then came over to to the Ohio Air Guard in the 121st a little over 10 years ago to fly with us. Uh Curtis started out in the 123rd uh within the Ohio Air National Guard, which is an air control squadron down in the Cincinnati area, and then he came to the 121st uh about five years ago now. And then Ty has been with uh with the wing for for a little over uh about a little over 10, actually almost 10 years, uh, been flying for about eight. Um all seasoned aviators. Um when you know the the current operation started, we needed uh volunteers, and all three of them put their hands up right away and said, we're ready to go. Uh and you know, each of them has unique characteristics uh that made them special. Uh you know, Seth was remarkable uh with his hands. You know, he started out in the military and fabrication shop, basically making aircraft parts. You know, that translated into carpentry. Uh Curtis, he's one of those guys where he's you're instant friends with him. Um, you know, an interesting anecdote with him, you know, even after he joined the 121st, he would go out of his way to go back and visit his buddies on their from his old unit on annual training because he was just such good friends with them. Uh and that's the kind of person he was. You're just instantly at ease with him. And then Ty Simmons, you know, he he is just a remarkably positive individual. His aura would just fill a room uh when he walked in. You know, his smile was infectious, uh and just you know, if anybody was having a bad day, it would stop when Ty walked in.
SPEAKER_03Oh wow. Thank you for sharing that with us. And you know, we certainly offer our condolences to you and to their families and thank them for their service as well.
SPEAKER_00The caring for and supporting the families of our fallen remains critically important for us and a focus for us. Um, you know, they're they're going through immeasurable loss now, and that's that's something that's gonna be a years-long process, not days
Supporting Families And The Wing After Loss
SPEAKER_00or weeks. So uh it's critically important that the that we stand behind them and we support them uh as we we honor their their loved ones' sacrifices. Um and similarly, we want to continue to support the people of our wing. We are I think I might have alluded uh that we are deployed around the world right now. So uh focusing on the care and well-being of our deployed family members, uh our deployed uh military members and their family members uh and making sure that that they are supported and able to continue on. You know uh right now the wing is continuing to operate in uh in in the face of this great loss and they're pressing forward and and and getting after the mission, maybe with a renewed sense of purpose uh because of all of the events that have gone on.
Why Aerial Refueling Powers Global Missions
SPEAKER_03Aaron Powell And their KC-135 refueling aircraft was carrying out a critical mission. Can you talk about the complexity and the importance of missions like that?
SPEAKER_00Sure. So really when it comes to something unique about the United States, United States military is our ability to project power around the world globally in a very short amount of time. Uh and the Air Force is one of the big drivers of that. Uh and and really to make that happen, you need air refueling, and that's the principal mission of the KC-135. And we have 12 of them here at Rickenbacker that the 121st um operates, maintains, and uh deploys as needed. So, really, I mean, anything, any effect we want to have, whether it's delivering combat air power, having some kind of a weapons effect somewhere in the world, or delivering people or supplies and support. And we do a lot of humanitarian support in the United States military does as well. So, really any of those capabilities to have them around anywhere in the world when we need them needs air refueling to get there. It's just kind of a backbone or a cornerstone of our military power.
SPEAKER_01And I understand there are plans underway to honor the airmen who lost their lives here locally. Are there any details you're willing to share at this point about those services?
SPEAKER_00Sure. So we we actually just uh a little over a month ago completed the the third of our funerals. Um we will do a uh a memorial service, an official memorial service, uh, but we're still have we still have a number of people deployed right now overseas um engage in operations around the world, and and we want them to have an opportunity to be part of that. So we'll wait for them to get back uh before we actually set that up and organize it. So sometime, you know, hopefully uh not too much later this year, but uh we don't have a date set yet.
The 121st Wing Mission And Local History
SPEAKER_03Well I think um for many people in central Ohio, this um news might have actually shed light on the fact that the 121st Air Refueling Wing operates right here in Central Ohio at Rickenbacker Air National Guard. So can you give us a sense of um the mission of the 121st and its history and you know kind of what you're responsible for day to day?
SPEAKER_00Sure. I might go backwards or jump around a little bit there. But uh again, we have 12 KC-135s. That right now is the principal air-refueling aircraft in the United States inventory. Uh the Air Force has the most of those. We're capable of refueling uh just about any aircraft in the Air Force inventory, most of the U.S. Navy, a number of the Marine Corps, uh, and a lot of like NATO allies and partner nations aircraft. Uh and again, the extent of of enabling their global reach uh and their ability to project combat power forward. We also have a number of other missions or corollary missions. We can do passenger movement, aeromedical evacuation, some cargo movement, uh, and then we provide a lot of what's called agile combat support capabilities. So uh think security forces or air base defense, uh civil engineering, maintaining and operating a base, uh, force support, which is training, care, and feeding, if you will, logistics readiness, uh, the supplies and the materials we need to operate. Um, and and of course, we've got a medical group as well uh that is principally focused on keeping our airmen ready to go. Uh but they also have uh a basically a domestic uh response capability. It's called a homeland uh response force, which is uh a National Guard uh element that can respond to natural disasters or emergencies. Uh for us, we're aligned with uh Fiji read FEMA Region 5, which is roughly the Great Lakes states. Um, but they're capable of providing uh medical support in in a natural disaster or national emergency type situation. So really a lot there.
SPEAKER_03Wow.
SPEAKER_00Um back to your question about the history. Uh the 121st, uh we're we're actually the longest tenant unit, military tenant unit at Rickenbacker. Uh and we've so we've been there really since about 1947. Um the the first element's there in 46, but but really 1947. Uh and and to your point earlier, a lot of people don't realize we're there. Right. Uh we're not a particularly large organization, you know, as far as Air Force wings go. We have about 1,200 military members. When you add in our civilians and contractors, we're closer to 1,400. Um and and most of that is a part-time force. So about a third of us are full-time that are responsible for keeping everybody else trained and ready to go and and and equipped and prepared. Um but but two-thirds are out there, you know, they they do it in the proverbial one weekend a month, two weeks a year, which is really a bit of a misnomer in this day and age. But but that people that people are used to hearing that uh and kind of understand that. And so they're they're living out in the communities, they're spread across Central Ohio, uh, really all parts of Ohio and even you know many other states. And so they're out there in the communities. Um and and we're we're just kind of spread out. And so that kind of maybe maybe dilutes the presence a little bit. Um but yeah, we've been there uh for for uh maybe 80 years uh here here uh next year. Wow. Uh yeah, it's also the the 80th birthday of the the Air Force and the Air National Guard.
SPEAKER_01Nice. So the 121st operates 12 KC 135 strato-tankers aircraft.
Inside The KC-135 And Its Capabilities
SPEAKER_01Tell us about these airplanes. Um, what do they do, what makes them unique, and why aerial refueling remains such an important mission today?
SPEAKER_00Yes. So uh the aircraft we have, the KC-135, uh, it's it's an older aircraft. Uh, you know, some of them are are are pushing 60, 60 plus uh years old. That's not to say that they're uh you know like antiquated. They've been modernized significantly over the years. They've completely uh modernized and all electronic avionics or the equipment we use to communicate and navigate and operate the jet. Uh it's all digital interface now versus you know the uh you know analog vacuum tube things of of of days past. But you know, we had principally is carrying fuel and refueling other aircraft in flight, which uh present prevents them from having to land, make fuel stops uh en route. That gets stuff places quicker, it reduces the opportunity of aircraft breaking every time you turn it off that you run the risk of something breaking. Um we can carry uh uh almost 200,000 pounds of fuel. Uh and to put that in a a sense that that the average person can understand, uh that's just a little under 30,000 gallons. Uh so I mean if you uh if you decide you're gonna you know fill up your car with 15 gallons a week, I mean you have you have decades of fuel, you know, almost 40 years of of fuel fill-ups in there. Trevor Burrus, Jr.
SPEAKER_03We won't ask how much that would cost right now.
Colonel Powers’ Path To Military Service
SPEAKER_03Um well let's talk a little bit about um your career. Did you always know that you wanted to be in the military? What brought you to that path? And did you know you wanted to be a pilot?
SPEAKER_00Sure. Uh as a matter of fact, I did. That's kind of one of those childhood uh childhood dreams. If you I'm one of the few people who said, I am doing my childhood dream. Uh I'm second generation in the military. My father was a pilot, and I kind of grew up around that and knew that's what I wanted to do. Um, once once I got in, I didn't really know how long I wanted to stay or beyond that. I mean, just kind of like get in the door and figure it out later, uh if you will. But but yeah, I knew from from an early age this is what I wanted to do.
SPEAKER_01Awesome. Yeah, that's wonderful. Not everybody can always say that they have to grow up and do what they they dreamed doing. Aaron Powell, Jr. We're living our dream too, surely, right? We sure are. Over the course of your career, you've logged nearly 3,000 flight hours and deployed numerous times around the world. Yes. That's quite a lot. Tell us more about that.
SPEAKER_00Sure. Um I've actually I've just about 30 years of service now. So I've I've deployed both as a pilot and as uh you know a security forces member uh uh before then. Uh most of my deployments have been flying deployments, so really all around the world. Uh it's an opportunity to see um the the the the value that is the United States, the value is that is the the American way of life. You know, when you get out there and see how how other countries around the world operate and in you know freedoms and latitudes afforded their citizenry, it's just it it makes you grateful to be an American.
Family Sacrifice And Returning Home Support
SPEAKER_03Aaron Powell We're talking about Memorial Day and talking about these deployments, and people often recognize the sacrifice made by the service members. Um, but deployments really affect the entire family. Um help us understand that side of military service.
SPEAKER_00Aaron Powell Yes, you you probably have not been or could not go to a military service where we don't start out by thanking our family members, and it's because uh not what we're trying to just to do platitudes, but we truly understand that that everything that we are able to accomplish, everything that we are able to achieve is absolutely underwritten by our families. Uh you know, our families serve and sacrifice right alongside their military members. You know, uh it's easy to think of of deployments and and temporary duty assignments away from home where you're missing birthdays or anniversaries, holidays. Um, you know, defending the nation is a 24-7 business. Uh and and uh it absolutely requires the the support of our families to be able to do that.
SPEAKER_03And I think there's some law that when you deploy um something will break at home. I know every time my brother deploys is the the water heater goes out, the refrigerator goes out.
SPEAKER_02And so yeah, I have to recognize uh my sister a law at that point.
SPEAKER_01But yeah, when my uh mom and dad were both deployed and um came back after serving over in Baghdad, um they the their unit sent my sister and I a letter thanking us for giving the time to allowing our parents to go um and serve. And to me that meant so much, and I still have that letter to this day. Um just a really nice um piece to remind remember the families there who are always thinking of those loved ones deployed. Um which speaking of when the airmen return home from deployments or difficult missions, um how does your unit support them and their families through that transition?
SPEAKER_00That's a great question. And really it's a layered approach to it. There's not just a like, hey, you know, go to this meeting or this briefing. Um first off, we welcome back and and and spend time with them, understanding like help help them, you know, have have they seen to your your question, have they seen difficult circumstances circumstances or stressful situations, you know, uh understanding that that even if you haven't, when you've been away for a while, you know, your your f family continues to grow and develop uh and and live their lives, and they've grown accustomed to you not being there. And so making sure that that both the military member coming back and the family at home understand uh that that there is going to be some some kind of a transition period where everybody gets back into um the groove, if you will, or the new normal or however you prefer to look at it, but but that change in different is difference is normal, um, you know, and and uh making sure that it that if if people did see extremely stressful situations or experience stressful situations that they have, um mental well-being counseling support available to them. That you know, if you see uh signs and symptoms of of somebody having stress-related trauma, uh that you know to ask for help and where to go. And uh for us, it's critically important that we know, that our families know that we are behind them every step of the way, every day. Uh and so we go to great lengths to do that from really every every echelon of command, from the wing commander down through group commanders, squadron commanders to section supervisors.
Leadership Development And Hardest Training
SPEAKER_03Um another thing that stands out about your career is your extensive military education, and I want to read through some of this here. Uh, two college degrees, including a master's, Air National Guard Academy, Squadron Office School, Air War College, Army Command, and General Staff College, plus war fighting school. Firstly, out of all of these experiences, what challenged you the most? And are you done with school or is there still more ahead?
SPEAKER_00So, you know, interestingly, the uh there is more ahead. I'll start there. The military and and really all of the services, uh, they do spend a great deal of time, effort, and energy in leader development. Uh, and they do that really to increase the effectiveness and the efficiency and the capability of the of the organizations writ large. Um, you know, the more time you spend on developing the the leadership in an organization, that that kind of matriculates out. Uh and it spends you you have leaders that spend time developing their people rather than focusing on like a metric or metrics in uh and and when people are first um is when organizations, whether they be military or civilian, operate well. Uh and so that's kind of the the the end all be all, if you will, with with leader development. I've been extremely fortunate in my career to have a number of opportunities. Um I will have another opportunity here, not uh before too long to do another program with another master's degree. Um but it's interesting because it it gives you the opportunity to learn, uh, to challenge yourself uh and to explore uh you know ideas and concepts that are maybe outside your comfort zone and help you grow. You know, to your question of I think there was something about what was the the most challenging. It was actually one not on that list. But I'll go back to it was it was undergraduate pilot training in the Air Force. That's where just learning to fly. And that's that's basically a year-long program uh where it's extremely intense and it's that way on purpose. You know, they want to to build up stressful situations and see how you act uh and how you conduct yourself and if you can make good decisions under pressure. Wow. Uh and it's just a lot thrown at you really quick, but you know, at the end of it, it's uh you you feel extremely uh extreme sense of of of confidence and and worth and value. Like I just accomplished this major thing, you know, I can go out and do a lot of things.
SPEAKER_01Wow. Yeah.
Memorial Day Ceremony Messages And National Resilience
SPEAKER_01Well, as we wrap up, let's come back to M Dublin's Memorial Day tribute at the Dublin Cemetery. Without giving away the whole speech, which messages do you hope people take away from this year's ceremony?
SPEAKER_00I would like people to take away that you know uh this is a big year uh uh for for our nation, you know, and and most of well, I shouldn't say most, a number of our military services actually predate the country. Both the Army, the Navy, the National Guard predates those by another hundred plus years. Uh and so service and sacrifice is no stranger to our nation. Uh and it's no stranger to Ohio. I'll talk a little bit about some of Ohio's uh contributions to our nation over over the years. Um we'll talk a little bit about our three that we recently lost and and uh you know their their um importance uh to honor and respect their sacrifice. Uh but I think that if we can take away that the United States is a great nation, despite the challenges we face, uh it is an imperfect nation, sure, but but the underlying principles and reasons behind it are solid. And uh and if people can take that away and understand that um you know, as as I'll paraphrase President Reagan, you know, freedom is never more than one generation away from disappearing. Uh and I'll talk more about that. But um if you know if if people understand that this great nation is worth sacrificing for, uh and and we you know honor and and uplift the sacrifices of those that came before to protect this great nation, I think is probably the best takeaway.
SPEAKER_01Wow. It's very moving. I can't wait to hear the rest of the speech tomorrow at the same moment.
SPEAKER_03Yes, absolutely. Um 11 a.m. on uh Memorial Day at Dublin Cemetery. And um you alluded to it, but this year is also a big year with America's 250th birthday, uh, the semi-sess contenial. I think I can almost say it now.
SPEAKER_00But can you do it five times faster?
SPEAKER_03I I will not put anyone through that. Um when you think about the United States, what stands out to you most about the nation's history, progress, and resilience?
SPEAKER_00Well, it is absolutely a resilient nation. That's probably a great spot to start. It has been through so much from you know a fledgling nation on the precipice of collapse for decades, really, uh, you know, through existential threats multiple times, uh, both internal and external over that 250-year history. I think that it is uh testimony to the endurability and the solid foundation upon which the country is built. You know, that that uh there is always a bit of tension. It is always healthy to have a bit of tension. Uh and I think that if you look back over that 250 years, um, you know, sure the the particular challenges that that that might be uh facing us now uh might be a little bit new or different, but but in reality, the our our nation has faced a number of challenges over the years and successfully worked together to get through those. And uh and I think there's a message of hope in there is that we'll continue to do that.
How To Attend And Learn More
SPEAKER_01Um and for our listeners who would like to attend the Memorial Day ceremony or learn more about America's um 250 activities here in Dublin, you can find invent details at DublinVeterans.com.
Rapid Fire Favorites And Final Reflection
SPEAKER_01Colonel, before we let you go, we end every episode with a few rapid fire questions. Okay. Start the first one. Are you ready? Sure. Besides the aircraft you already flown, what's your dream aircraft to pilot?
SPEAKER_00That's a tough one. It's probably a two-way tie. Uh maybe slightly edging out via P51 Mustang, which was kind of the fighter that turned the tide uh of World War II. It was just kind of an amalgamation of a number of technologies, emerging technologies just coming together at the end of that war. That really had a major effect. But it's not so new that it's still a pilot flying. But my second one is probably or close second is probably a PT-7 steerman, which is a biplane trainer used really kind of between World War I and World War II. But that's one where it's still largely, you know, fabric airplane, you know, with old engine, you know, old, you know, it's that's one that's truly just pilot skill.
SPEAKER_02Let's go classic.
SPEAKER_03All right. So when you're in that aircraft and you could have one person in the world in the cockpit cockpit with you, um, anyone from world history, who would it be?
SPEAKER_00Hmm. I, you know, that's that's a difficult question as well. I would probably go with uh this this is not to sound cliche, but but probably Eddie Rickenbacker, the namesake of Rickenbacker Air Guard base. And it's one I've you know, in the last few years uh since being there and being in command, I've taken the time to really dive into his history. Um and you most people know that he's America's ace of aces from World War I uh with 26 and a half kills. He's a Columbus native uh and grew up on the south side of Columbus. But what all people don't know is the the tremendous amount of adversity that he overcame multiple points throughout his life. You know, he's basically uh a self-taught, uh self-educated person, um, you know, decided that he liked cars and wanted to figure out how they worked, learned how to work on engines, uh, you know, designed cars, ended up racing cars, partly that into flying, uh, you know, number of combat missions in World War I, which he flew with some physical impediments that uh you know life had thrown at him at that time with some some injuries, uh, you know, that comes through that. Ends up going to the point, you know, after the war, founds an airline, starts an airline, uh, you know, ends up uh contributing as a civilian to the the war department in World War II, uh he's on a bomber over the Pacific as a civilian that goes down and is you know essentially lost at sea for three weeks and survives that. So just over time, you know, from uh from a difficult family start and essentially dropping out of school at age 13 to take care of his family through building an airline. Uh people just don't understand the contributions and and and what Eddie Rickenbacker really accomplished. And so if I could have somebody in the plane with me, that would be that I did not know that story.
SPEAKER_01Um a lot of senior military leaders eventually write books. Will you?
SPEAKER_00I'd say that's certainly in the cards. All right. Later on, I do to your education uh question. I do plan to pursue a PhD. I think dissertation will be a great uh a great foundation uh there. I think there's a number of topics, uh whether it be civil-military relations or um even to to history of the National Guard, uh, to the experiences we face every day as as leaders in in our military.
SPEAKER_03All right. Well, if you need editors, we're around, right, surely, to offer our services. Uh speaking of books, what book are you reading right now?
SPEAKER_00Aaron Powell Listening to uh right now uh uh um audio book, but uh The Strategy of Denial by Elbridge Colby. Uh and it's basically how the uh and an idea or series of ideas of of how we uh structure our national defense in the modern era with the modern threats we're facing.
SPEAKER_01Aaron Powell What's your favorite way to stay in shape? I run. I'm a runner. All right.
SPEAKER_00I'm a runner. It's uh you know, like especially being in the Dublin area, you can't not well, you can't run. But but it's such a great spot to run with all of the trails and uh the green spaces in Dublin.
SPEAKER_03Aaron Powell What's a workout you dread most but still have to do?
SPEAKER_00Dread most. I don't know that I have a particular workout I dread most. I'm not a huge fan of push-ups, but I have to do them every year with the physical fitness test of the military. But but yeah, it you get through it.
SPEAKER_03Aaron Powell So with it being Memorial Day weekend coming up, have you done the Murph?
SPEAKER_00Aaron Powell I have not done the Murph. Uh matter of fact, we just got the an invitation to be part of the Murph. So that that might be on the horizon for you.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I I do it every year, but I do a very, very, very modified version that involves no pull-ups and no vest.
SPEAKER_02But it's uh that's a good run for a good cause.
SPEAKER_01Um what's your favorite Dublin spot, park, restaurant, or hidden gym?
SPEAKER_00Well, I I probably alluded to it earlier, but the trails, the the the bike paths and uh all around the city. Uh they're they're fantastic. And it's a great way to just get around. Uh which you know, as far as where we like to go, you know, basically you you you can pick any any patio at any of the establishments in old Dublin or Bridge Park.
SPEAKER_03Right. Yes. 150 plus miles, right? Right of the paths around. All right. Final question. Uh finish this sentence, please.
SPEAKER_00Memorial day means honoring uh honoring dedicated service and sacrifice, remembering and uplifting.
SPEAKER_03Well, it's been an honor to have you with us today for this uplifting conversation, and we really look forward to having you on Memorial Day. Thank you so much for being here.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. I'm grateful for the opportunity to be part of this podcast uh and and spend some time with you today talking about the Wang and Memorial Day.
SPEAKER_03And to our listeners, thank you as well for taking the time to connect with your city. Tune in next time as we continue to explore the many personalities and experiences that make Dublin a thriving place to live, work, and grow.