Happy Birthday, Ford Mustang!
Mustang has now achieved the late comedian Jack Benny's age. Thirty-nine years ago Ford unleashed a Mustang stampede that continues to this day. Over seven million of our favorite steed have been sold and have traveled the highways and byways of the United States and many other counties. There are Mustang clubs in many counties that Ford has never officially sold the car. It is one of the most recognized automobiles in the entire the word and brings smiles to youngsters and the young at heart.
Mustang has been honored in song; rock, country, blues and rap. Our favorite Pony car has been in movies from Bond to Bullitt and television shows. since 1964 to the present.
In short it has become an American icon in thirty-nine short years.
Celebrate the day with your Mustang. Gather you friends for cruise, request your favorite Mustang songs from local radio stations, and have a birthday cake for Mustang.

Now For the Big 40
After you celebrate this year, make your plans to go to Nashville for the 40th Anniversary.
For information: Mustang Club of America
Groups planning cruises to the really big show are;  Mustangs Across America  ,  Mustangs in Motion - Powered by Hemmings Motor News ,
and   Ponydrive 2004
For more information on Nashville click:  Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau , and Tennessee click:  Tennessee Vacations - Welcome    
Hope to see you there!

A few issues ago I did a tribute to Mustangers in the Military. I must now honor a fallen Mustanger in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Private Diego Fernando Rincon of Conyers, Georgia was killed in action March 29, 2003 by a homicide bomber that approached the check point he was manning. He was a true American that loved his country and his Mustang.

Terrorism cast triple shadow over young soldier's life By MIA TAYLOR
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution     
Diego F. Rincon

As the wave of terrorism unleashed by Pablo Escobar's Medellin drug cartel was reaching its height in Colombia, George Rincon knew he had to protect his family and make a better life for them. With his wife and two young sons, he came to the United States, to Georgia, in 1989.Rincon's youngest son, Diego, was 5 years old. He would grow up in rural Rockdale County, enjoying a life of freedom and safety that might not have been possible in Colombia.It was a life Diego Fernando Rincon grew into happily and successfully. By the time he graduated from Salem High School in 2001, he was an accomplished actor, musician and cheerleader.    

He also was a patriot, loyal to the country that had welcomed him. When the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks occurred, Rincon knew it was time to repay his adopted country and fight terrorism. Within six months of the attacks, Rincon was at Ft. Benning near Columbus, doing his basic training as an Army recruit. Then came Fort Stewart, where Rincon became a member of the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized).He wanted to be among the Army's elite, a Ranger. He was among the 15,000 members of the 3rd Infantry Division sent with tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles to wage the war in Iraq.Last Saturday, Rincon, 19, who was a private first class, and three other members of his 1st Brigade died at the hands of a suicide bomber at a military checkpoint near Najaf.Halfway around the world, his young life was claimed by the kind of violence his father had tried to rescue him from in 1989.The pain was unspeakable for George Rincon.His words came haltingly Monday as he stood in front of the family's Conyers-area home on Lanella Parkway, a small street where the handful of other houses displayed flags and yellow ribbons in tribute."My son Diego was a very brave man. We are very proud of him," George Rincon said.In the driveway behind him was a yellow Ford Mustang that Rincon had hardly broken in. It was decorated with yellow ribbons, flags of the United States and Colombia and smiling picture of Diego Rincon in his Army uniform.    

Family and friends marveled at Rincon's impact as a soldier, but many said they preferred to simply remember him as a young man who loved entertaining people, talking to girls and driving his Ford Mustang.    
   A fund has been set up to help the family financially. Donors may contribute to the Diego Rincon Memorial Fund at any Bank of America branch.     

Operation Mustangs in the Military
Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords in its May 2003 issue has a great feature with photos of members our US Armed Services with their Mustangs. Check it out:  This Month--Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords