Paris family take in D.C. on Fourth

WASHINGTON — For decades, Rick Trusty taught history at Paris High School. Last week, he helped his family witness it firsthand.

The retired educator, his wife, Amy, and his youngest son, Luke, traveled to the Mall in downtown Washington, D.C., on Thursday to see a presidential speech and several military flyovers.

Luke, 17, plans to join the U.S. Air Force when he graduates from high school. He had urged his parents to make the trip, and they were happy to oblige.

In addition to hearing Luke Trusty’s future commander in chief, they watched a B-2 stealth bomber streak across the sky, flanked by F-22 Raptor stealth fighters. Those were followed, minutes later, by AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and six F/A18 Super Hornets, flown by the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels team.

A plane that serves as Air Force One and a helicopter that will soon be used as Marine One also soared overhead.

It was easy to spot the Trustys in the crowd — mom and dad were wearing shirts featuring the Arkansas state flag and a map of Logan County. (The back side featured a map of Arkansas and a plug for the county Republican Party.)

Rick Trusty, who isn’t wild about the Democratic presidential candidates, predicted that Trump will likely win a second term.

“As long as the country’s prospering, I don’t see him losing,” he said.

Luke Trusty, sporting a “Make America Great Again” T-shirt and hat, said his first trip to Washington had been exciting.

“I love history. … I love politics. It’s how the world works,” he said.

The jets that roared overhead were amazing, he said.

Assuming he qualifies, he wouldn’t mind sitting in the cockpit himself someday.

“If the opportunity presents itself, I could definitely see myself flying a plane,” he added.

While seeing Trump speak was exciting, the event “wasn’t about him,” Trusty said. “It was about America and what the United States has accomplished over the past 243 years.”