Oh, no! We can't call them Bombers!

Reading Edward Jablonski’s “Flying Fortress” for the fifth or eighth time and decided to see what internet has to say about Colin P. Kelly, posthumous recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross for actions in the Philippines on Dec. 10, 1942.

“Colin Kelly Middle School in Eugene, Oregon, was named in his honor in 1945 by the school's first students, who preferred an ‘ordinary Joe’ as a namesake, rather than prestigious military or political figures. The school colors are kelly green and white, and the nickname is ‘Bombers.’ In 2013, the nickname was changed to ‘Pilots.’"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Kelly#

The school’s web site says:

“The seventh and eighth grade students chose the school’s name from a list of heroes, statesmen and presidents. They wanted to commemorate a modern-day hero. Captain Colin P. Kelly, II, a B-17 bomber pilot, was among the first servicemen to lose his life at the beginning of World War II. Students wanted to honor Kelly and all young flyers who were giving their lives to win the war.”

http://schools.4j.lane.edu/kelly/pages-new/about/tour.html

Maybe a bit of irony.

“With the 1993 addition of the mid-level program for the Japanese immersion school, Yujin Gakuen, the name was amended to Kelly Middle Schools: home of Colin Kelly, da Vinci Alternative and Yujin Gakuen.” (Same source.)

‘Kelly Middle School Unveils New Mascot’

“EUGENE, Ore. — Kelly Middle School unveiled its new mascot Friday.

“Originally named after a World War II bomber pilot, Captain Colin P. Kelly II, the school decided to change its mascot from the Bombers to the Pilots.

“Although there were never any complaints about the old mascot, teachers requested the change to make the mascot more inclusive to everyone.”

http://www.kezi.com/kelly-middle-school-unveils-new-mascot/

(I guess anybody can be a Pilot, but being a Bomber is exclusive.)