Although a bright, last-quarter moon blazed overhead, little more than a faint glow penetrated the cloud deck. At an elevation of almost 9000 feet above sea level, this high desert should have been cooler than 52 degrees. The clouds were nature’s blanket, preventing the warmth of the previous summer day from radiating into space.

In the quiet stillness of the moment, a blinking light sparked to life from the middle of the valley. As the strobe pulsed like a heartbeat, a group of intensely dedicated and gracious people streamed from all directions towards the flashing beacon. As dawn approached, their numbers grew in anticipation of their guests’ arrival.

Along the same narrow thread of highway, legions of soldiers based at Ft Carson, Colorado aimed their sights on that same flashing beacon. Although they arrived individually and in squads, their final mass was the size of a company. For the second year in a row, hot air balloon pilots and crew from across Colorado and beyond gathered in a place known more for its playful antelope and occasional buffalo. Soldiers and balloonists converged on the peaceful expanse at the base of the golden beacon to stage a joyous and heartfelt celebration.

A Celebration of Honor.

Originally the brainchild of long-time balloonists Dave and Jackie Charbonnel of Colorado Springs, the idea is simple: Tell the troops “Thank you!” Balloonmeister and balloonist of more than 30 years, Stephen Blucher of Colorado Springs stated the event has nothing to do with politics. The Celebration of Honor has everything to do with telling these brave men, women and their families how much we appreciate their courage, service and sacrifice. Spanning both Saturday the 26th and Sunday the 27th, nearly three dozen balloon pilots treated almost 300 soldiers and family members to rides both long and short above south Park County’s open range.

Each of the balloonists and soldiers arrived at South Park with stories to tell. But by the time they left, they each had a one more. This story is about two soldiers, one balloonist, and memories, friendships and mutual respect that will last a lifetime.

US Army Spc Sonya Shin and Spc Richard Sanchez share a few things in common. Both serve proudly in the 277th Field Artillery Battalion. Spc Shin is in her third year of service. Spc Sanchez is in his third year of his second enlistment. Both hail from the great state of Texas – Shin from Dallas and Sanchez from San Antonio. Spc Shin turned her love of music and voice and her college education in mass communication into an assignment as a communication specialist. Spc Sanchez serves as a Health Care Technician. On the battlefield, that title translates into what civilians commonly called a Medic.

Spc Shin learned about the Celebration of Honor Fly during a meeting on base. As she explained it, she decided to participate after discussing it with Spc Sanchez. Not only did Spc Sanchez fly on Saturday, he returned on Sunday to contribute as part of the event’s first aid team. As much as he loves his job, he was happy to report that he had nothing to do that day. This man is built around service to others.

At half past six on Saturday morning, Breckenridge-based balloon pilot Mike Fleming, his wife Melinda, crew Linda and Greg Littlejohn of Colorado Springs and Barbara & Louis Sterle of Buena Vista assembled along with their fellow pilots, crews and more than 100 honored guests. It was then that Sonya and Richard met Mike and team for the first time.

Like so many of Colorado's balloon pilots, Mike and Melinda Fleming are two of the most generous, welcoming and patient people you’ll ever meet. As the story goes, it was Melinda that convinced (coerced?) Mike to get out of bed way too early on a summer Steamboat Springs morning back in 2000 to attend Steamboat’s annual hot air balloon festival. Later, after taking his first ride over his hometown of Breckenridge, Melinda no longer had to convince Mike to get up early - he was hooked.

Mike took a full-time job as a crew member for the local ride pilot. Seven days a week, Mike learned the craft from the ground up working on a giant 245,000 cubic foot, 10 passenger aerostat. In 2004, he purchased his first balloon and has piloted for 3 years. He now flies a custom-designed Lindstrand balloon whose design matches what he calls the couple’s “twisted way of having fun”. But as Mike would tell you, this story is not about him. The story is about the patriots he, Melinda and crew came to thank.

Journeyman musicians say they play for free – you just have to pay them to set up and tear down. As Sonya and Richard learned, flying is the easy part. There’s real work in standing up a 90,000 cubic foot balloon for flight, then taking it down in a way that prepares it for the next flight. Mike and crew put them to work right away. But it was obvious that both soldiers were no strangers to the structure, sequence and attention to detail necessary for a safe launch. With an intensity hardened under fire and smiles as big as their courage, Sonya and Richard eagerly tackled their pre-launch assignments. When Mike was convinced the balloon was safely up and ready to launch (and not a moment sooner), he invited Sonya and Richard aboard. Surrounded by a rainbow of other balloons, Mike, Sonya and Richard headed skyward.

Even though Saturday morning’s sky was mostly overcast, the winds were light and gentle – perfect for a morning of flight. Riding in a balloon is the juxtaposition of incongruity – long periods of smooth, graceful silence punctuated by the roaring blasts and searing heat of propane burners. These burners are sterno on steroids – pumping out heat on the order of millions of BTUs. Temperatures at the top of the envelope approach 200 degrees. At today’s price of propane, Mike Fleming says each blast is a dollar a pop.

As is anyone in a hot air balloon, Mike, Sonya and Richard were at the mercy of the winds. Balloon pilots share much in common with sailboat captains - both have to anticipate that which cannot always be seen. Reading clues offered by clouds, ground formations, other balloons and the wind on their ears, pilots adjust their altitude in search of their wind direction of choice. On this day, varying winds at different altitudes took balloons in different directions. Over the course of the post-sunrise hours, wind direction can change even at those same altitudes. Some balloons headed straight west, some headed northwest, some worked their way to the east.

While in flight, Mike did what he does so passionately well – he explained the art and science of balloon flight to Sonya and Richard. From piloting tips to safety procedures to finding and catching the right breeze, Mike made Sonya and Richard’s first balloon flight a wonderful experience. Back on earth, the crew transitioned from launch support to mobile tracking. Even in perfect flying conditions, balloons flights are limited by the amount of propane fuel carried on board. After almost an hour of flying, Mike radioed to his ground crew that he was searching for a suitable landing spot.

While maintaining radio contact with the balloon, Melinda led her ground crew to the SUV and pickup truck to chase off in pursuit of their pilot. The wind had taken Mike, Sonya and Richard about three miles to the southwest and across the highway. Much of this area is a checkerboard of ranches and pastures - the squares segmented with barbwire fencing. Not wanting to trespass, land on wire, or near large and potentially threatening livestock, Mike searched for the wind gust that would lead him to a safe landing zone.

As happens so many times, just when the ground crew arrived in the area, nature blew Mike and passengers in the opposite direction. With trailer in tow, the drivers had to back up on narrow dirt roads, reverse course and head back to where they started. No doubt Sonya and Richard got a laugh out of that radio exchange.

After almost 90 minutes of flight, the balloon crossed back over the highway and was few miles straight west of the launch site. Mike deftly landed the balloon in an open field just a few yards from the road. The touchdown was nearly perfect – Each passenger reporting hardly a bump. Mike’s landing was a metaphor for the whole morning.

Once the crew helped glide the still-inflated balloon to the road, Mike led the process of taking everything down, apart and packing up. Once again, Sonya and Richard took their places beside the rest of the crew. As other chase crews drove up and down the dusty dirt road, honking and shouting salutations and encouragement, the team finished loading the folded envelope, basket, burners and other paraphernalia into the trailer. Then, the SUV and pickup containing balloon, crew and honored guests headed back to the launch site for a hard-earned breakfast.

As Sonya and Richard returned with their team, Major General Mark Graham, Commanding General of Ft Carson headed back with his pilot, Stephen Blucher. By then just about all of the pilots had returned with their passengers. As the (hungry!) crowd listened, General Graham, on behalf of the guests of honor, offered words of thanks to Dave and Jackie Charbonnel, the pilots, crew, and all those who helped make the day a rousing success. Baloonmeister Blucher then excused all for breakfast, and not a moment too soon!

While well known within the ballooning community, the Celebration of Honor Fly is not widely known among the general public. In many ways, that’s a blessing. The launch area is only accessible via single-lane dirt roads. Parking is limited to the narrow shoulders of these roads and can only accommodate a few dozen vehicles. Although there are a couple of large sponsors, most food, drink and covered shelter is provided by the pilots and event organizers. Pilots and crew bear the cost of transporting themselves and their gear to and from the event while the event covers the cost of propane fuel.

But that’s what makes this event so special. While large, highly organized and attended events like the Colorado Balloon Classic are a spectator’s dream come true, the Celebration of Honor Fly doesn’t exist for spectators. That’s not what Dave and Jackie Charbonnel had in mind two years ago when twenty seven pilots took the first handful of soldiers up for a few hours in the sky.

Their vision is as simple as a ‘thank you’.

Thank you to all who serve.

Be safe.

Return home soon.