Tell me what you remember about Glenview Naval Air Station

I grew up with a dad who was a military history buff, with a special interest in aircraft.

And as much as I wanted those weekends spent at every airshow, everywhere, to be princess pony rides to sparkly kitten unicorn rainbow farms (I was that little girl before it was cool) eventually, an interest in military aviation rubbed off on me.

I've been to the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio (you.must.go.) But, by far, one of the best things I've ever seen was an actual aircraft carrier docked at a Navy base in Virginia. I really had no concept of how big those are. I also was in DuPage County once shortly after 9/11 when fighter jets intercepted a flight from O'Hare and caused a sonic boom. That's something I'd like not to experience again.

So needless to say, as soon as I started this job, I had to take an actual look at the Glen Town Center — not just as a place to eat dinner and run in to get something from Von Maur (which has pretty much been my only experience there before now) but as an actual place with a history that goes further back than when the GameStop got there.

I vaguely remember being there when it was still the naval base for a family friend's graduation from boot camp (I think? I was maybe 5). Most of my recollection of that trip had nothing to do with the base's history or the experience of being on a military base for the first time; it was being super excited that the place where we ate lunch let me drink water out of a wineglass. Fancy!

But fast forward to now, and it's really exciting to consider what was there before. Just among some of the well-known alumni who passed through were Neil Armstrong, President Bush 41, Butch O'Hare (after whom the airport is named) and President Gerald Ford (who was pretty exciting to me: I wrote him a letter asking him about his golden retriever, Liberty, and whether he liked bacon sandwiches. He sent me an autographed picture and a letter that mentioned Liberty. No word on bacon sandwiches, though)

Here's the thing: I've written before about my love of history, and that's something I want to get right here in Glenview and Northbrook. And part of that history — besides the people, like I talked about last week — is the places. And Naval Air Station Glenview is one of the most significant places in this area.

More than anything, I want to chronicle its history properly. I also want to understand what it meant to you, the community.

Here's where you come in: Send me your memories. Did you serve there? Did you work there? Did you have a family member who did? Do you live there now? I really want to hear about it. Drop me an email: mfindlay@dailyherald.com.

• Melynda has worked at the Daily Herald for more than 20 years. Her heart has always wanted to be a passenger on a T-38. Her head does not.