Columbus, OH, Northern CO, SW Florida Visit World War II Memorial
I attended a banquet for Northern Colorado’s veterans (lead by Col Stan Cass) the night before they visited the World War II Memorial and was as always impressed by the devotion each Honor Flight pays to its veterans. General John H. Tilelli, Jr was the main speaker for the evening. He was proceeded by a full color guard. The dinner was the cats meow and the veterans were all talking about their war experiences and where they had served. I am not the first to observe that these trips inspire them to talk about the war for the first time.
On Saturday morning, Northern Colorado was first to arrive at the World War II Memorial, followed by Senators Elizabeth and Robert Dole who spent an hour plus with the veterans. Senator Robert Dole has had highly complimentarty pieces in both the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal for not only his work with veterans but also as the man who might actually push Health Care Reform through. As he says in the New York Times article: “I had good treatment and it’s probably why I’m still around.” Another reason he’s still around is because of Matt Mabe, the team of Seth and Seth and Masrion Watkins who make sure he doesn’t stay too long at the World War II Memorial. His devotion is obsessive and he only leaves the World War II Memorial when he’s finally exhausted himself.
I had to drive up to New York at noon yesterday and left soon after greeting Bobbi and Bill Richards from Columbus. U.S.Air cancelled some flights so they were forced to charter a jet and had ninety vets instead of their usual thirty plus. Bobbi’s father is seriously ill and he is in all our prayers. She has had the opportunity to bring him to the World War II Memorial twice. It’s small consolation but he is in all our prayers. The Richards are an amazing couple and I am their staunch admirer! I know that I will see them every other Saturday and hope that US Airways will reconsider its schedule.
Lest we forget, our Ground Crew in DC numbers around 200-300 people who greet the flights at the airports and pass out lunches and make veterans comfortable at the tent. Like all of our volunteers, their service to Honor Flight is immeasurable. Thanks!!! Oh…and thanks to Judy Lemmons who keeps us all going in the right direction and Jeff Miller who provides measured thinking on all things Honor Flight and Air. And just one more for the National Park Service Volunteers, George Kerestes, Dan Arant and Al Doehring who will tell you they are “retired” but it’s real hard to tell!!
Saturdays Images can be found and downloaded for personal use at the Photo Site.