Views of a Farm Boy--Dedicated to promote Iowa agriculture and Iowa values--Robert Vaughn--Urbandale, Iowa  EMAIL:   vaughnrobert@me.com

If my people who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land. (KJV) (2 Chronicles 7:14)

The Historic Rocket Slide first appeared in the Playground area (Astro City) of Des Moines Union Park in1971. It was a favorite play spot for many young people for several generations. Then a few years ago it had to be torn down for safety and other factors. Now this happened! This month (August 01, 2024) the all new version of the Union Park Rocket Slide was opened for fun and adventure. I think a lot about past times in my older days and there is a memory story here. Most of you know I was a farmer and a pharmacist for many years. Most of you don't know I was also a ROCKET man! After high school I was in the army.

There I attended a 5 month missile training course at Huntsville, Alabama. Then I spent 18 months at White Sands Proving Grounds in the desert of New Mexico. It was quite a sight to see the Redstone Rocket take to the air for test and training. So today, it was fun for me to see this new safe and secure version of the Rocket Slide in Union Park. I hope it will be a place where young people can play and perform for many generations to come.