On Saturday November 6 we had the great opportunity of doing something you NEVER get to do these days…go past airport security to the gates without a 'valid boarding pass!' The reason for the unusual privilege? Welcoming a group of World War II veterans to the Nation’s Capitol to view the WWII Memorial. Mel’s grad school’s local alumni association was asked to participate in welcoming an Honor Flight from Southwest Florida. The flight had 184 passengers including 73 veterans, their escorts, the event planners, & some medical support staff.
We got to Reagan National Airport about an hour and half before the flight arrived to get boarding pass like documents that allowed us to go through the airport security to the boarding area. They decorated the arrival area with red, white, & blue balloons and all of the service’s flags.
As we waited, we made some new friends from among the alumni. Aren’t the kids so cute?!?
I was impressed with how they were able to recognized the greatness of the men they were about to meet.
They also had a live band come & play for the veterans as they disembarked the aircraft. It was a bit of a challenge to get their instruments through security but it was worth it. They played such songs as The Star Spangled Banner, The Armed Forces Medley, Stars and Stripes Forever, In the Mood, & other songs from the 1940s. Several of the veterans danced around to the familiar tunes, as did some of the welcoming committee & grounds crew as we waited for the flight to arrive.
Once the plane was connected to the jetway & the plane’s door opened, the band played our National Anthem. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the waiting area.
As they left the plane they were greeted by active duty soldiers standing at attention & saluting. Once they left the jetway they were met by others cheering & clapping & the sounds of the music of their youth.
Many of the veterans were touched by the welcome, overwhelmed even by the outpouring of love & thanks being expressed by those of us who had the privilege to be there.
The veterans were so cute!
They all seemed so happy to be there.
Don’t you think he looks like Elder Perry?
After the veterans had left the airport & were boarding the buses to head in groups to the WWII Memorial & to Arlington National Cemetery. Mel & I decided to head downtown to the Mall to see some of them as they viewed the actual memorial dedicated to their generation & what they accomplished. The memorial dedicated to those of their friends who did not make it home, who gave their all & who are represented in the field of stars. At the WWII Memorial we also ran into another group of WWII veterans from Columbus, Ohio.
Watching these men view this memorial was touching. Watching them remember drew to mind the beautiful epitaph written by John Maxwell Edmonds: “When you go home, tell them of us and say, for their tomorrow we gave our today.”
One man, a Vietnam veteran, was challenged by a couple of the World War II vets to do 30 pushups…he did.
It was a beautiful fall day that became even more beautiful by our opportunity to remember the sacrifices made by our grandparents’ generation. It became even more special due to the unique opportunity presented to us to thank a group of men (& 2 women) who had served our great country during times of such uncertainty and fear. If they are not truly the greatest generation, they must be pretty close.
Happy Veteran's Day
(this post was provided courtesy of ghost writer MLG)
