Posts Tagged ‘Jewel of the Mall’
Fall Flights Flying
Fall Flights Flying

Honor Flights from fives states came in September 10th, 2008 and there are flights expected every Wednesday and Saturday with a few Tuesday flights as well so it’s going to be a busy season at the World War II Memorial.  The photographs from yesterday are on the book site.  One of the interesting aspects of the […]

Guilding my day…
Guilding my day...

I had the opportunity this morning to show my work to the Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington, DC. What a gracious group and what an appreciative audience! Throughout my career, I’ve seen these Guild Guides in Museums, on the Mall, in historic houses…. always leading groups of people and adorned in large conspicuous […]

Siouxland, Iowa at World War II Memorial
Siouxland, Iowa at World War II Memorial

Sens. Charles Grassley and Tom Harkin from Iowa and Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska spoke with the men about the importance of service to their country and the sacrifices they had made at the World War II Memorial.  Former Director of the VA Jim Nicolson was there and Senator Dole, despite a trip to Vermont […]

Sky Views….Google’s take on the World War II Memorial
Sky Views....Google's take on the World War II Memorial

Google’s new GPS and mapping features are extraordinary.  Using “Sketchup”, Google’s new free software,  you can not only see the World War II Memorial from space and determine the distance to bookstores but you can also create your own 3D model of the Memorial.  To say it’s handy for builders and would be home and office […]

1025 yards….a matter of interpretation at World War II Memorial
1025 yards....a matter of interpretation at World War II Memorial

The first thing people ask at the World War II Memorial is where they can get some more information besides the little pamphlet.  I am not the only person behind the movment to make the “building” South of the Memorial capable of selling a few interpretive items. These items are what the NPS likes to […]

Chicago and Cleveland at World War II Memorial
Chicago and Cleveland at World War II Memorial

Chicago, Cleveland and Northwest Ohio arrived at the World War II Memorial today with appoximaely 150 vets and 100 guardians.  It was a breezy 82 degrees and Senator Dole was on hand to greet the vets as were Jeff Miller and Earl Morse.  Mary Pettinato of Chicago is shown here “reunited” with her veteran.  The […]

Fox in the Morning…Fox in the Evening
Fox in the Morning...Fox in the Evening

Fox Television graciously hosted Senator Dole and Honor Flight this AM with an interview first with anchorman Steve Chenevey and then 3 Public Service Announcements and finally fox sent a cameraman down to the Memorial for a special on Honor Flight that will be broadcast tonight.  If anyone has a Tivo, cue that puppy up!!! […]

Public Service Announcement and TV documentary on WTTG
Public Service Announcement and TV documentary on WTTG

On August 20th, DC’s WTTG Fox 5 TV will have a television crew working on a piece for broadcast. Senator Dole, Earl Morse and Jeff Miller will be joining Jeanmarie Kapp, Chicago, Jan Merrick, Cleveland and Dee Pakulski, Northwest Ohio and 160 vets and 100 guardians at the World War II Memorial.  It should be […]

World War II Database
World War II Database

  I discovered the “World War II Database” while routing about the web.  If you are traveling to the WWII Memorial or just interested in WWII, there are plenty of facts to enhance your veteran’s experience.  It’s interesting that there are so many independent scholars out there working to expand our information resources. As Peter […]

Columbus and Dayton Honor Flights at World War II Memorial
Columbus and Dayton Honor Flights at World War II Memorial

Honor Flight Dayton led by Jim Salamon and Honor Flight Columbus lead by Bobbi and Bill Richards swung through the World War II Memorial yesterday and were as usual greeted by Senator Dole.  Both Susan Barr and Dave Bauer were along to direct the festivities.  The pictures are available and downloadable for free at the WWII […]

Unstoppable: George Kerestes
Unstoppable:  George Kerestes

George Kerestes is one of our Nations’s most outstanding citizens and is on hand every Saturday to greet visitors and talk up the World War II Memorial.  He works at the Department of Energy and walks at lunchtime, sometimes adorned in a red, white and blue tie to get his “constitutional” and say hello to […]

Unflappable
Unflappable

Much like the National Park Service, the so-called Canadian Geese have immigrated to the United States and sit fat and happy enjoying the largesse of the American People.  The leadership of the Park Service are currently asking for 50 million they claim they need to “maintain” the National Mall. They might try selling books at […]

Technology and Art, World War II Memorial
Technology and Art, World War II Memorial

Towards the opening days of the World War II Memorial, much of the stone work was finished and the fountains were being tuned.  The eagles were being welded together and you could sit up amongst them on a scaffold.   I spent almost two weeks photographing the welding which was very carefully done by Apex Piping.   All […]

Presidential Guards
Presidential Guards

As I strolled onto the Mall, I saw a well-organized group of joggers on the other side of the Mall and thought to myself:  “We could use that nice bright color for our pictures!”  Well, if wishes were photographs, you’d get this. It turns out the Navy Presidential ceremonial guard was out for some “exercise” […]

Columbus Flight Finds Sponsorship
Columbus Flight Finds Sponsorship

Ms. Mary Marta and her dad Frank Perone pose with Senator Dole at the World War II Memorial.  Mary was so moved by Honor Flight that she sponsored not only this whole flight but the next flight in two weeks.  Generosity like this has enabled Bobbie and Bill Richards to schedule three more flights this […]

Bluegrass Rules
Bluegrass Rules

There was some rain in the DC area last night and Brian Duffy of the Bluegrass Honor Flight called to say they’d be a bit late but everything worked out fine. Honor Flights have been lucky with the weather and Brian’s group was no exception. They managed to get to the World War II Memorial […]

Michigan gets support from Air Force at WWII Memorial
Michigan gets support from Air Force at WWII Memorial

Michigan Honor Flight has to be breaking new records with a flight every other week this Summer. Today they had about forty vets and fifteen guardians. They arrived just after the big rains and were just finishing up their tour of the World War II Memorial when Senator Dole arrived. They seemed to be picking […]

Ground Support Builds at World War II Memorial
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 […]

Michigan and Cleveland at WWII Memorial
Michigan and Cleveland at WWII Memorial

Last Saturday, Honor Flight Michigan and Honor Flight Cleveland  came in for two remarkably brief visits to the WWII Memorial which went off without a hitch. The images can be found at the Photo Sharing Site.  Given that there is no “old news”, I’m going to skip a week and jump forward to this weekend when […]

Touring with Rangers at World War II Memorial
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!!!!
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
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?
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 […]

Four flights flying…white house fellows….
Four flights flying...white house fellows....

Jay McMaster of Columbus and his crew were the first to arrive at the WWII Memorial today and we did this group picture just before Senator Dole arrived. Ah…life was so orderly at that point. Three more flights arrived within the next 30 minutes with Jim Salamon of Dayton, Jim McLaughlin with his Lone Eagles […]