During the month of July we are reminded, almost everywhere we look, of the freedom we are blessed with in America. There are flags and various other decorations in shades of red, white and blue around every corner. Children are excited and looking forward to fireworks. Perhaps it would be a good time for us adults to share with this generation the real reason that we celebrate the 4th of July with fireworks – of the bombs that actually were “bursting in air”. Making them aware of the cost that others paid so that they can enjoy the freedom they now have is a priceless gift. You can go all the way back to 1776, it’s important that they know that. But there are still some living examples of others that fought just as hard to maintain the freedom that was declared for our nation on July 4, 1776. In 1941, thousands of American men officially joined the fight to keep the US independent when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor and Hitler and Mussolini declared war on the US.

There are not a whole lot of people left that were eligible to participate on the front lines in the war and the support missions that civilians participated in here at home, but Iris Taggart is most definitely still around. She has made it her goal to make sure that those of us here in the Sacramento and surrounding areas don’t forget. Iris’ husband, Robert “Tag” Taggart, had just graduated from Chico High School in 1940 when he went to work at McClellan AFB then to Mather AFB as a civilian airplane mechanic. By the following year, Tag had enlisted in the Army Air Corp. He was then assigned to the 8th Air Force, 390th Bomb Group, 570th Squadron flying B-17s (aka “The Flying Fortress”) out of Framlingham, England. Tag and his crew flew 32 missions. Now that Tag is gone, Iris proudly represents not only her husband, but also the many other pilots that flew missions over places they’d never heard of in order to make sure that their loved ones and friends back home would be able to continue to live in peace.

Iris spends her time working on events such as the California Capital Airshow that is held annually in September at Mather Airport in Rancho Cordova. Most recently, she was very instrumental in gathering some of the local veterans of WWII together at McClellan for the annual visit from the Wings of Freedom Flying Experiences. Jim Walden of Placerville sponsored 26 free rides for local veterans, at $425/each. Iris helps coordinate these veterans coming to McClellan to be honored. There was an Honor Guard with a flag presentation, lunch was provided for them as well as hats, t-shirts and armbands. “It was a very emotional time as grandfathers brought their grandchildren to see the planes and to be part of sharing their memories,” Iris stated. “I want to do my part to keep history alive.”

That she does. Hers is a fascinating story that there just isn’t room enough to tell now. She has been honored specifically by people who now own the original B-17s, as well as by Washington D.C. All of us can honor her, and the others just like her, by doing our part to keep history alive. The internet has a wealth of information about the wars that have been fought to secure and maintain the nation that we live in and the freedom that we represent. There are also many books that can be found in the local libraries. Teach your children. Make it fun. Help them do research and then watch for events – like the airshow at Mather Airport – where they might be able to meet some of the people that can tell firsthand about the real bombs that were bursting in the air over countries that were trying to take our freedom from us. Iris said that we are losing 1,500 veterans every day. Soon there may not be many of the left, but right now our children can get the knowledge and experiences to share with future generations.

For more information about the California Capital Airshow, visit their website at www.californiacapitalairshow.com. Be on the lookout for Iris. It would definitely be your privilege to make her acquaintance!