When I served in D.C., I learned a very important lesson. That not all patriots wear uniforms. A lot of them wore suits, and a lot of them wore skirts. And there are some very professional, very dedicated patriots that are civilians. And I thank God for their service.

Maj. Gen. Mark A. Pillar (Ret.) served for 37 years in the Air Force and Air Force Reserve as a command pilot, logging more than 5,300 hours of military flight time.

He flew 90 combat missions in South Vietnam, and has flown missions in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and in the Bosnia no-fly zone.

Pillar flew for Delta Air Lines for 27 years piloting such aircraft as the McDonnell Douglas DC-9 and Lockheed L-1011, retiring as an International Captain on the Boeing B-767 ER.

His last duty assignment was in Air Force Acquisitions in the Pentagon, and on 9/11 he was the mobilization assistant to the Commander in Chief of United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM).