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| Recently, by proclamation, the City Council approved today as "Mike Klingner Day" in McCook. This special day, to recognize the life and sacrifice of one of our citizens, is the first time in my experience that such a designation has been made. Some here today knew Mike, others know very little about him; some may have see the plaque in his memory at the City Library basement room. Perhaps some have wondered a little about his story. Mike Klingner was born here in McCook, in 1945 to Ray and Jo Klingner, very loving and caring parents. Early on, he demonstrated leadership abilities, and he obviously was concerned about learning .. graduating from McCook High School in 1963 and from UNL in 1967 .. and there, through the ROTC program, he enrolled in the undergraduate pilot training program. He was at the top of the class in that program. His love for flying and his abilities, got him assigned to Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico where he trained to fly the F-100 Super Saber. Mike ... married his college sweetheart, Jane Klimes from Clarkson, Nebraska. And then he went to Vietnam in 1969. There, on April 6, 1970, while attacking military installations on the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos, his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire .. and First Lieutenant Klingner was "missing in action". One year later he was declared "killed in action". These are some of the statistics of Mike's life .. but Mike was more than just a statistic. He was a bright, happy boy as he grew up. He was adored by loving parents, loved by an older brother; he was a loyal friend to many others. His wife, Jane, the love of his life, and Mike's family couldn't bring themselves to give up hope that some day, by some miracle, he would be found and restored to them. Eventually, however, wreckage of an F-100 was found and thought to be Mike's aircraft. Later in the 1990's his ID tags were found in a Vietnam museum. I stand in awe of his family's hope and faith. Not too many of us could admit to that degree of hope, but since no other trace was ever found of Mike, to some of his family and friends, I am sure, there has been no closure, and they continue to mourn his passing. It is therefore very fitting that this Memorial is being held today in recognition and in thanksgiving for Mike's 25 years in our midst .. a very short but very significant life. If, as it has been suggested in the play "Our Town", there is a door between the "here" and the "Hereafter", and at very special times of remembrance, that door swings open, perhaps Mike is smiling down upon all that are gathered here, and perhaps he needs the same kind of closure as we do. So, let's thank Mike for his love, courage, his patriotism and his willingness to risk his very life for our Country .. and for his fellowman, here or in that faraway Country. "A greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" .. or for strangers. Now it's time to say "goodbye" to Captain Mike Klingner and say. "Well done! Rest in peace, Mike". Flora Lundberg, Mayor of McCook Nebraska 2000 |
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