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Keeper of peace

By Senior Airman Jessica McConnell, Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs / Published March 22, 2012

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MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Books, movies and nature: These are a few things said to inspire artists, poets, musicians and more. In any shape or form, art can rejuvenate or even bring new meaning and life to the oldest of ideas or objects, even the B-52H Stratofortress.

One late afternoon in 1973, a young aircraft weapons systems maintainer was inspired by none other than the B-52. Watching the sunset go down over the flightline at Kincheloe AFB, Mich., he observed several silhouettes of this aircraft in the distance. Instantly inspired, the young Airman sat down, took pen to paper and began to write what came to him.

"The poem wasn't so much about the plane as it was about the mission of the aircraft," said Phillip Poynor, a retired Air Force defense fire control system technician who was in the Air Force for 20 years. "The bomber was a symbol of peace during the 60s, 70s, and 80s - and it still is today."

The poem Poynor wrote was the product of a hobby he discovered while attending the University of Maryland. One of his favorite classes was English Literature, where he first learned of his deep interest in poetry and he said he has written poetry ever since.

"I've been writing poetry ever since I was 18-years-old," he said. "I'm 65 now, so I've been doing this for quite a long time now."

The poem was written in 1973, but resurfaced on Poynor's 65th birthday as a gift from his son, Tech. Sgt. Jason Poynor, and his fiancée, Gina. Poynor's son lives in Merced, Calif., and actively serves as an Air Force recruiter.

"He had the poem laid over a picture of a B-52 and had it framed nicely for me," said Poynor. "It really meant a lot to me. I thought it would be nice to share with the Airmen here as well."

Poynor contacted the base and asked to display the picture at the 5th Bomb Wing Headquarters building so others could enjoy it as well.

"I was inspired by this mission, that is why I wrote the poem," said Poynor. "I want others to get something out of it as well - that's why an artist does what they do, so others can benefit from it in their own way."

Many walking through the 5th BW Headquarters have stopped to read the poem saying they really enjoyed it and that it made them proud to be part of this mission.

"I think the B-52 is almost seen as a forgotten guardian to the public," said Capt. Jon Arceta, 5th BW executive assistant. "It's an aircraft that was very important and is still here - and it's going to be here a while. On the very surface, I think the poem will inspire anyone who reads it."

Many working on the bomber now can attest to its strong presence and its long-range capabilities, but more importantly, many still view it as it was when the B-52 first arrived on-scene - as a symbol of serenity.

"It's a symbol of peace - it was a strong thing for the nation to have a bomber fleet like that," said Poynor. "Even though the H model was kept stateside as a nuclear deterrent, it was still ready and loaded. Our enemies, at the time, took note of that. That's what I wanted to convey in the poem."

"I want people to read it and be inspired the way I was the night I wrote it," he continued. "It's not so much about the plane, but what the plane represents to our nation - peace."

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