Junior right at home with Spikes Published July 16, 2009 By 2nd Lt. Ryan DeCamp 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Junior walked into the 62nd Fighter Squadron's briefing room early in the morning of July 10 and began telling the assistant director of operations about the aircraft in the pictures hanging on the wall. An hour later, he did the same in the 56th Fighter Wing vice commander's office. Most new pilots would not dare try this, but Junior is not like most pilots. Kenneth "Junior" Serrano, 5, paid the 62nd Fighter Squadron a visit as the pilot-for-a-day. Lt. Col. Chris Colcord, 62nd Fighter Squadron assistant director of operations, escorted Junior, his mother, Jill, and father, Ken, around Luke Air Force Base showing them the sights. But getting Junior to this point tested their faith, Mrs. Serrano said. "One of the low points was in the hospital." she said. "You hear about all these stories with kids who have illnesses and you think, it always happens to someone else, and now it's happening to you." Junior recently spent six days in the pediatric intensive care unit of Phoenix Children's Hospital for strep-throat and a rare blood infection. He also developed pneumonia while there. Despite his experience in the hospital, Junior is as energetic as any other five-year-old. "He talks a lot and knows a little bit about everything," Mr. Serrano said. "He'll hold up the planes and tell you about them - he's always been like that." The day started with the family's trip to the base. "We didn't tell him we were going until we got in the car," Jill said. "He knew we were going to the base but he thought we were going to a movie or a pizza party. I'm not sure he really understood what he was going to do. As the day went on he realized what he was getting to do. "I think that was half the fun, watching his face light up throughout the day because it was one surprise after another." The day started with a tour of the briefing rooms and a meeting with the wing's top staff. At life support he tried on his flight suit. When Kenneth saw his name tag on his flight suit he reached out, grabbed it and said, "Awesome!" Junior then got to see what he repeatedly called 'his plane' throughout the day. Inside the 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Unit hangar stood an F-16 with a surprise. A magnetic sign with Junior's name on it was stuck to the side of the aircraft below the cockpit, just like the names of the pilots he looks up to. After lunch Junior fought his father in the F-16 simulators. Junior's bullets did not hit his father's plane, but they did not have to. Mr. Serrano flew low to dodge the bullets and crashed, giving Junior the first win of the dogfight. After watching a few Falcons take off, the family rounded out the day by heading to the top of the tower to get a better view of the base. Junior liked 'his plane' the most, he said. "You guys took part of your day and made all of us feel special," Mr. Serrano said. "Showing Junior what the pilots go through, to me has been really special and I want to thank the staff for everything they've done to take time out of their schedules to meet with us. The family hopes the day will help Junior forget about his time in the hospital and move forward. "We're hoping this supercedes the hospital memories and the pictures we received from our day at Luke will help him forget his hospital stay," Mr. Serrano said. Colonel Colcord talked about what the day meant to the 62nd. "You get to see someone interested in what you do and the family really enjoys it," Colonel Colcord said. I think it means more to us as we get older and for those of us who have kids. You see that connection and passion in them for what we do." The day is not possible without help from the Luke community, Colonel Colcord said. "We want to thank the 62nd AMU, arts and crafts, transportation, the Network Training Center and the air traffic control tower," he said.