I want to see you and celebrate your award. Was told I called too late.

Mikey,

I just called to reserve a spot to see you at the AU presentation, and was told that I missed the cutoff for RSVP.

I’ve known you for years. You gave me a lot of encouragement about the good things possible for our Air Force Academy and for the armed services regarding the religious persecution and proseletyzing that I witnessed and experienced when I was a cadet in the Class of 1969. My life was shaken up by those people (and I didn’t have anyone to talk to about that for decades). I’m so glad that you are helping with the daunting task of developing a level ground for people of all faiths and none to serve our country with respect and dignity.

Only today did I realize that there was a cutoff date for the RSVP to celebrate your award on November 7.

I’ve been fighting for my continued existence for many years now, and sometimes it gets nearly overwhelming with the blend of serving others and working on rebuilding my own health that I have been focusing on for decades now. I simply did not register the fact that there was an RSVP date (other things distracted me, life-and-death situations with patients, etc.).

There are indignities that I have experienced that I will not list in this email. I hold advanced degrees but financially it has been difficult to manage — long before the whole world underwent economic stress recently. Recently I received some money for work that I did and I am able to give the $20 donation to attend; it would be my pleasure to contribute in that way, so I am not asking for free attendance.

I called and asked if I could be on a waiting list re the late RSVP and was told that that position had been used up already. Then I asked if I could simply come and wait in the lobby of the building so that I could say hello and shake your hand either before or after you go to the meeting room.

Whatever happens, I want to again say how proud I am of what you and your family has made possible for so many. Things like religious persecution and threat of persecution are like poisons holding people back from realizing the good things that are possible in life.

Thanks, brother. And thanks to all the people in MRFF.

Respectfully,

(name and location withheld)