Flying High and Staying Grounded: A Tribute to My Mother this Memorial Day by Jared Harding Wilson

By Jared Harding Wilson

While Memorial Day is a time of solemn remembrance for those who made the ultimate sacrifice, this weekend also leaves me feeling profoundly grateful for the veterans who are still with us today. Specifically, I am thinking of one incredible woman: my mother.

Before she was a dedicated mother, a doting grandmother, or a resilient cancer survivor, she was a young woman stepping out into the world to serve her country. For four years, she wore the uniform of the United States Air Force, and her journey is one I am incredibly proud to share.

From Basic Training to the B-52 Hangars

Her adventure began on February 25, 1971, when she officially joined the Air Force. She was sent to San Antonio, Texas, for six weeks of grueling Basic Training—a true crash course in discipline, grit, and growth.

From Texas, she received orders that took her across the country to Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington, a Strategic Air Command (SAC) base. It was the tail end of the Vietnam War, and she found herself working in an office right inside of a hangar that housed massive B-52 bombers and fighter planes.

It was a time of immense personal and professional growth. She learned to work with early computer systems, navigating a rapidly changing technological landscape. But Spokane brought a far more permanent change to her life than just technical skills. It was during her time stationed in Washington that she discovered, studied, and joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—a spiritual foundation that would define the rest of her life.

Of course, living in the Pacific Northwest also meant experiencing a real winter!

A View from the Cockpit

One of the highlights of her time in Spokane came courtesy of her commanding officer. Her Colonel noticed her hard work and went out of his way to make her feel valued.

One morning, he woke up at 3:00 AM just to meet her at the hangar and give her a personal tour of a B-52. He had prearranged the flight for her to head home to North Carolina for Christmas. Later, the kind pilot allowed her to even sit in the cockpit!

True to military life, the weather had other plans, and they had to divert and land in Georgia. The rest of her journey home required a long bus ride, but the memory of flying a B-52 stayed with her forever.

When she wasn’t working near the flight line, she was representing the Air Force with precision, performing on a fancy, fast-marching drill team at special events, including local community celebrations at Christmastime.

Over the Seas and into the Desert

Her service eventually took her far from home to an air base in Turkey. During her downtime (often called R&R, or Rest and Recuperation), she took the opportunity to explore the rich history around her. While stationed in Turkey, my mom joined the base women’s volleyball team and was able to travel to Greece for a volleyball competition, as seen below. Her team worked really hard, and working with her coach, she developed a mean spike!

After her time overseas, her final station brought her to the sunny deserts of Arizona around 1974 and 1975. This was a thrilling time to be in the Air Force, as the military was debuting its next generation of top-secret, high-tech aircraft.

Mom was placed in a high-security role, working directly for an Air Force General. Her job was critical: collecting and managing all classified performance data for these cutting-edge aircraft as they were being integrated into the fleet.

But Arizona held an even greater purpose for her. It was there, while wrapping up her military service, that she met my father. Their love story and their shared faith eventually led them to the altar, where they were married for time and all eternity in the Mesa Arizona Temple.

A Legacy of Faith and Resilience

When her four years of service ended, her mission in life simply shifted. The same dedication she gave to her country, she poured into her family. She became a truly wonderful, loving mother and has since grown into an absolute gem of a grandmother.

In recent years, she has faced battles that required a different kind of armor. She recently fought a fierce battle with cancer and beat it. Though she still navigates daily health struggles, her spirit remains unbroken. Her life is anchored by her deep faith, finding immense joy in the gospel and constantly looking outward to help and serve those around her.

Mom, thank you for your service, your sacrifice, and the beautiful example of strength you show us every single day. Happy Memorial Day weekend.

Do you have a veteran in your family whose story fills you with pride? I’d love to hear about their service—or your own memories of military life—in the comments below!