Larry McDonald Shot Down 26 Years Ago Today

This is Congressman Larry McDonald (1935-1983) in the July the 4th Parade in 1980. The only thing missing is a white horse he could have been on….with a horse raring up and Larry waving at the crowds – just like cowboy heroes do.

I have taken pictures of Larry in two different local parades. Each time he wore white and each time he stopped the parade, well, at least the parade behind him, to pose for me. He thought I might have been the press. Then I mostly used a barrel 200 mm zoom lens at things like parades.

Congressman Larry McDonald was known for his right wing John Birch conservatism and his anti-communism stance.

As we know, communism ended with a whimper without Congressman McDonald leading the charge.

The plane he was on, Korean Air Flight 007, was shot out of the sky, 26 years ago today, September 1, 1983, by Soviet interceptors. McDonald was the only sitting member of Congress killed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

I guess at least he got some glory, being killed by communists – his nemesis, just like his hero John Birch.