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Final
"Honor Flight" Held October 2nd
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Bill
Strawsburg, American Legion Post 162, Lorton Virginia,
enjoying some free time in the early morning.
Washington Monument in the background.
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It was still
dark and a bit chilly when we arrived at Post 177 on Sunday morning for
the final “Honor Flight” of the season.
Donna Frank had already been at the Post
since around five to make coffee and get ready for the volunteers.
The rest of us wandered in around six.
It took about half-an-hour to load the truck with
coolers of ice, water, and wheelchairs.
Then we were off to Post 180 in Vienna
to meet up with the rest of the 17th District
volunteers. |
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| Volunteers
from the 17 District receiving instruction on the
scooters before heading back to the World War II
Memorial. |
| Philip Dunn,
Commander of American Legion Post 180, graciously
treated everybody to eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, and a
hardy portion of grits.
There was plenty of coffee and good conversation.
After everybody’s appetites were satisfied, we
boarded three trucks for
Washington
, packed with all the equipment and provisions for the
long day ahead. |
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Volunteers
riding scooters back to the World War II Memorial. |
| Of course,
nobody was aware that the U.S. Army’s ten-mile run was also
scheduled for that morning.
Once we hit
Washington
, the roads were blocked by police cruisers for the upcoming
run. With a
little initiative, we were able to bypass the roadblocks
and make our way to
Constitution Avenue
, our now familiar parking location.
Unfortunately, access to the World War II
Memorial was blocked to vehicular traffic, but with a
little coaxing and explaining that we were there to aid
veterans, we were able to bring the vehicles to the
Memorial in order to unload them. |
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Paul
Sandy, Post 177 Building & Grounds Committee,
relaxing by the World War II Memorial after all the
scooters have been retrieved. |
| Once at the
Memorial, the next big task is getting the 18 handicap
scooters from the Old Post Office building, 4 or 5
blocks away, back over to the Memorial. Most of us
walked the first trip and then were shuttled back by
truck to get another load. All of this is done by
ten in the morning. |
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Paul
Sandy, Post 177 in front of the Korean War Memorial. |
| There was
still over two hours until the World War II Veterans
were due to arrive so a few of us decided to go over and
visit the Korean War Memorial and the Vietnam Memorial
"The
Wall" while we were waiting. ( If you
haven't had a chance to visit these monuments, it is
highly recommended). |
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Dennis
"Grady" Wilson, Post 177 1st Vice Commander,
reflecting on the statue of three soldiers entering the
clearing. The Wall is in the background. |
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The World War II Veterans
finally arrived by bus around noon after a commercial
flight down from Springfield, Ohio into BWI
Airport. American Legion volunteers were ready
with scooters, wheelchairs, and bottles of water as
needed by the veterans. |
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The
flag ceremony with World War II Veterans lined up in the
background. |
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This is
the Ohio "Honor Flight" flag and plaque,
dedicated by the World War II Veterans under the Ohio
pillar at the World War II Memorial. Click on
photo to read the dedication. |
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This
is the special time as the veterans line up for a flag
ceremony as they honor the dead from their State and the
nation that died during World War II. |
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Mark
Duke, Post 177 Commander, assisting a veteran with a
scooter. |
| Once the
ceremony is over, veterans are free to visit the
Memorial at their leisure. Many require the
assistance of a scooter or wheelchair, but that doesn't
hinder their enthusiasm. This may be the one
opportunity they ever have to see the Memorial dedicated
to the honor of their sacrifices. |
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Philip
Hamer, World War II B-24 pilot, with Kim Bloch, Director
of Ground Operations for "Honor Flight", and Kenneth Knight, Post 1976, in front of the Ohio pillar
at the World War II Memorial. |
| After a
couple of hours the veterans are brought together with
their hosts for a photograph in front of the Memorial
and then they're back on the bus to Ohio. The
"Honor Flight" is a long day of traveling for
these veterans, but there is not one complaint.
Each veteran has had the opportunity to reflect on his
past and the memories from a long time ago. |
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World
War II Veterans with their hosts in front of the
Memorial. |
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World
War II Veterans boarding the bus to return to Ohio. |
| After the bus
has left, the 17th District's volunteers still have to
return the scooters and pack back up. |
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Phil
Dunn, Post 180 Commander, with Mark Duke, Post 177
Commander, loading the truck after the veterans have
departed. |
| As with the
previous "Honor Flights", it is a long day of
volunteerism, but it's worth every minute. Knowing
that you have helped your fellow veterans; those that
have served their country so many years ago to secure
our freedom as Americans; knowing that you have helped
give them the opportunity to see their Memorial, makes
the entire day one that wouldn't be missed for anything.
Click
here for more information about "Honor
Flight". Click
here to go to the September "Honor
Flight" story.
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