Books
Ground Support Builds at World War II Memorial
Scott Williams Commander of the American Legion Post out of Purcellville, Virginia is on hand every Saturday with his crew to pass out water and help the WWII Veterans get around the World War II Memorial. Today, this hat was floating around on one of his guys and while I haven’t gotten the complete story […]
Touring with Rangers at World War II Memorial
National Park Service Rangers are always available to do group tours of the World War II Memorial. The National Park Service is adapting to the new Memorial and providing better services and accomodations to visitors. The rangers know the Memorial intimately and a guided tour will surprise you in the complexity of the Memorial. The Memorial looks […]
Happy Birthday Senator Dole!!!!
Dear Senator Dole: Happy Birthday from Honor Flight, HonorAir, your wonderful staff, friends, admirers, colleagues– all the people you have been working with to help get your fellow veterans to the National WWII Memorial. Among your many achievements, the Memorial is certainly your most beautiful! ADD YOUR GREETING IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW
Michigan: Pride and Honor Flight at World War II Memorial
It was a beautiful daydown at the World War II Memorial and Faye Wisely of “Pride and Honor Flight MIchigan” was already on scene with 85 vets and 25 guardians. Faye was the first person I sent a book to last year and my initial contact with Honor Flight. I believe this is her second […]
Cleveland Browns?
My long lost cousin Senator Sherrod Brown showed up today to greet Veterans at the World War II Memorial. The Brown family is large and influential and it was good to find a family member out there along with Congresswoman Betty Sutton greeting our veterans. Cleveland has been in a couple of times this year and […]
Smile you “huskers”….
As I strolled over to the World War II Memorial after greeting Bill and Evonne Wiliams at the bus, I heard a young women (left) shouting “Smile you Huskers!” . Wow!! another “serial cusser” I thought to myself… and I headed over to meet her only to find out that “huskers” has something to do […]
Independence
It’s the Fourth of July and I’m staying home today. I’ve seen a lot of the Mall this year and I can see the national fireworks from my roof and barbecue some Kansas City steaks…..! Congratulations and thanks to everyone I’ve met through Honor Flight this year. It has been a memorable time and I […]
“Jewel of the Mall: World War II Memorial” discounted to Veterans Groups
If you are a veterans’ group interested in purchasing “Jewel of the Mall: World War II Memorial” books as a memento for your WWII Vets, please contact the studio at srb@srbphoto.com or 202-667-1965. In September, I will be doing another printing and I assume with this gas crisis that it will tough to keep the […]
“Mad Dogs and Englishmen”
I have to admit that “photo detail” with Senator Dole at the WWII Memorial is an endurance event. He can stand in the hot sun and shake hands for half the day. He’s jostled, grabbed, poked, prodded and maintains a composure that is I guess what you’d have to call almost Presidential. He’ll make a […]
Touring the Bas Reliefs at the World War II Memorial
As I mentioned earlier, Senator Dole joined the veterans as Earl Morse was giving them the tour of the bas reliefs which greet the visitor from the front entrance to the World War II Memorial. The twenty four bas reliefs contain 255 figures and their construction is what lead me to initially begin this project. […]
Dynamic Duo…
Of late, I’m feeling like the unelected “Mayor” of the WWII Memorial and tend to stroll up to folks and ask “what’s up?” Well today, Fred Smith, Veteran, decorated Marine and Founder and Chairman of Fedex was up. He had brought three Okinawa veterans and was doing a mini honor flight. And then along comes […]
Kilroy Returns
Located in the entrance to the service entrance of the WWII Memorial is a cartoon face with the caption “Kilroy Was Here.” For the past month, he’s been inaccessible because of the sidewalk expansion which is now finished. One of the Park Rangers told me that people who don’t know who Kilroy was have reported […]
Memorial Day 2008
The WWII Memorial opened four years ago on Memorial Day and has quickly become the most popular Memorial in Washington. It is airy, open, refreshing and easy on the eyes. I photographed all over the Mall yesterday but this was the first photo of the day and my major interest and obsession. I’ve had the opportunity to […]
Cheering Crowds of Children at World War II Memorial
Hastings Middle School (more than 200 of them) schoolchildren lined up on either side of the South entrance to the World War II Memorial to cheer Indiana’s vets as they left and welcome Nebraska’s veterans as they arrived at the Memorial. They were in DC to help Bill Richards celebrate his “4 Chaplains” award ceremony at […]
White House News Photographers Recognize Honor Flight
1000 members and guests of the White House News Photographers arose to applaud Honor Flight and WWII Veterans Ed George and Al Dunn who were part of Earl Morse’s first flights in the small planes. They are shown here with two young women who won first place as camerawomen in the Military Photographer of the […]
Texas…
J. Burton, a bagpiper from the Coast Guard lead the Texas contingent under the eagles and down onto the World War II Memorial proper. The bagpipe is a beautiful instrument must be hard to practice at home!!! Al Bailey was along to give them some help. If anyone knows where I can buy one of […]
Escorting the new flights were…
Jeff Miller and his wife Tam rolled into the Memorial with the South Carolina flight. Jeff, who introduced the “lets charter a jet” concept to Honor Flight has run out of vets to transport in the Hendersonville, North Carolina and is working with other groups to help them through the intricacies of getting the vets […]
Book Sale at the FDR Memorial
“Jewel of the Mall” is available at every bookstore and Museum in town. The only place you can’t buy it is at the WWII Memorial. However, just four blocks away, Linda Smith who runs the bookstore at the FDR (Franklin Delano Roosevelt) Memorial has a sale going with a set of four frameable 5×7 postcards […]
Seven State Festival… Fargo goes wild!
Saturday, May 3rd was particularly exciting at the World War II Memorial. Honor Flight groups from seven states participated during the weekend. It began with dinner at the Hyatt on Friday night with Tracy Briggs. As usual, she said this is her “last trip” (we hope not!!) for the WDAY North Dakota Group. Senator Dorgan […]
Air Force Association
Speaking of Al Bailey and the Air Force, I got a call from Susan Rubel at the Air Force Association and AFA Veteran Benefits Association asking for books for their online store. They are also presenting the “Jewel of the Mall” book at a special discount for their members and it will go out as […]
Oneida, New York’s Joyce Oster Palmer and John Brennan
We all know about Honor Flight but there are groups and individuals working to accomplish the same task. John Brennan, Esq. and Joyce Oster Palmer took over a project in Oneida County with great success and are building their own WWII Memorial in Oneida. She wrote recently: “In all, between Herkimer County 200, Oneida County […]
Ray Kaskey’s Sculpture Website
Ray Kaskey is the internationally renowned sculptor who created the eagles, the bas reliefs, the ropes that join the columns, the water grates, the flagpoles and every piece of bronze in the WWII Memorial. Prior to the WWII Memorial, he was most famous for his statue “Portlandia.” He was chosen for this project not only […]
“Why I’ll just charter a big jet!”
Jeff Miller of Hendersonville, North Carolina heard about Earl Morse’s small plane junkets and since he couldn’t fly, decided to charter himself a jet!! Will Rogers said, “Not all of us can be heroes. Some of us have to stand on the curb and cheer as the heroes pass by.” Jeff’s not standing on any […]
Bridging the Generations
Mary Cole of Bridgewater, New Jersey is shown here surrounded by veterans at the WWII Memorial. Last year, at the age of 16, she organized a “Tour of Honor”, raised the money and brought 67 vets to the WWII Memorial by bus. Joe Gromelski of Stars and Stripes who took the picture said “… it […]