Vietnam veteran Brian Shul delivered a patriotic speech in Chico, California, in 2001.
Major Brian Shul is a former Air Force pilot who flew over 200 missions in Viet Nam and sustained severe injuries when he was shot down; after a lengthy recuperation period (and many surgeries) he recovered sufficiently to resume a 20-year Air Force career that ended with his retirement in 1990. Since then, Brian has operated his own photography studio in northern California, turned out several books about flying, and performed numerous public speaking engagements.Public speakers who could deliver rousing patriotic speeches were in high demand in the weeks after the September 11 terrorist attacks, and Mr. Shul didn't disappoint. Invited to speak at a rally in Chico, California, in October 2001, he delivered the speech quoted above, as he confirmed for us:Yes, the speech is mine, and accurately copied. I gave that address at a city rally in Chico a month after the 9/11 attack. A large number of folks from the town were gathered outside in late afternoon. I nearly missed the whole thing, arriving late and had only 2 minutes to get from my car to the podium as they were already announcing me as I pulled up. Little did I know it was going to be the most popular and widely read talk I have ever given.One of Mr. Shul's personal favorite speeches is the address he delivered at March ARB on Veteran's Day 2001.
nan