This group is dedicated to creating an online community for all active military, veterans, first responders and their families. group has a language and experience all of its own and we are dedicated to giving you a space and place in which to interact and engage with others who know that life.

We also seek to support the families of all those who have served, as well. We welcome you here to your very own community. Thank you Jesus for every soldier & first responder protecting & serving us through this night. Like warm covers in the cold, blanket them in your love & our prayers of gratitude.

Rosedale Gardens became a “Military Caring Congregation” through Military Caring Network, USA. As a congregation, we expanded our ministry of serving those who serve to include first responders and families of both military and first responders.

JOIN US IN HONORING OUR VETERAN OF THE MONTH

We are recognizing Ronald Hiveley,

Lieutenant, U.S. Air Force & Air National Guard Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan & Vietnam

Ronald H. Hiveley was born April 7, 1947 in Wayne, Michigan as the oldest child of Doris and Herbert Hiveley. After graduating from Franklin High School in Livonia, he attended Schoolcraft College, married Linda (Crittenden) here at RGPC, and attended the University of Michigan.

This is where Ron's adventure in the Air Force began. While attending U of M, Ron received his draft number, which was low enough that he would surely be drafted into the army - this was not part of his dream. He visited the friendly Air Force recruiter who advised him that he could be a Pilot if he had a degree. He transferred to Eastern Michigan University and graduated with a Bachelors of Science Degree with a major in Physics and minor in Math. Soon after graduating, he was sworn into the Air Force. In the summer of 1971, Ron joined the Air Force at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas.

After 90 days, he became a Second Lieutenant. During his time at Lackland, his daughter, Rebecca, was born. After graduating with his fighter pilot designation, Ron was transferred to Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma. Six months into pilot training, the Air Force offered “Palace Chase.” This program offered pilots the ability to transfer from the Air Force to the Air National Guard (ANG). After talking with the Michigan ANG, Ron learned that he met the requirements and decided to transfer. Upon transferring to the ANG, his mission of flying an F-106 was to protect our homeland against bombers. The armament of this plane included one rocket with a nuclear warhead in addition to four guided missiles while flying at twice the speed of sound and as high as 60,000 feet. While awaiting orders to go to Tyndall, Ron spent a little over six months flying the T-33 while accumulating over 200 flight hours and assisting around the squadron.

Ron was given, and willingly accepted, the responsibility of scheduling all the Air Defense Command “Faker” missions for the 23rd Air Division, as well as flying a number of missions himself. Ron was then sent to Tyndall Air Force Base to check out in the F-106. A little over halfway through F-106 training, he had a hard landing and his instructor pilot suggested that he have his eyes checked for depth perception issues. The following morning, Ron went to have his eyes checked and they checked out perfectly for depth perception. However, this test was done by an airman, not a doctor. The next time Ron flew with the instructor pilot, he had another hard landing and was sent home. As a result, he was separated from the Guard and put into the Air Force Reserve.

Five years after being separated from the Guard, Ron had his eyes checked and the doctor advised him that he had astigmatism since birth, which became apparent when his eyes were tired. Ron explained to the doctor the distance changes that he was required to make as an F-106 pilot – one focus being looking out the window at infinity, the next focus being the instrument panel, which was about two feet away, and the final focus being just inches from a map from NORAD that sends the position and speed of any invading bombers.

The doctor said that Ron would lose his depth perception by the end of a two hour training flight as a result of rapid focus change. Ron continued flying airplanes with corrective lenses. He was a certified Instructor Pilot, as well as a Pilot for Mesaba Airlines, a commuter for Northwest Airlines, where he also helped with On Demand Charter Piloting.

We at Rosedale Gardens would like to recognize and honor Ronald Hiveley’s contribution to the safety and security of this great nation. We thank him for his dedicated and honorable service. Well done, good and faithful servant.