BY ANDRE SALLES
By now, you're probably familiar with Honor Flight Chicago and our series, "A Flight to Remember." Basically, Honor Flight finds local World War II veterans and gives them a free trip to Washington, D.C. to see their memorial. And we're going along with them.
Starting at 2 a.m. Wednesday, I'll be live-blogging the trip, from Aurora to Midway Airport to Washington and back. But you won't just have to read my thoughts - I'll be sitting next to some of the most interesting people you could ever hope to meet. About 60 of them, in fact. And I'll be listening as they reminisce about their military service and their lives after the war. I promise you some great stories.
Our ace photographer Heather Eidson will also be bringing you images of the trip throughout the day. We're also launching our new A Flight to Remember Web site on Wednesday, where you'll be able to read our stories and watch our videos over the next few days. It promises to be an emotional journey, and I hope you come along.
2:00 AM
Yeah, that's right, 2 a.m. It's been quite some time since I've been up this early. I gave up caffeine in January - we'll see how long I stick to that resolution today...
I'm writing this from my home in Geneva, and I'm just about to step out the door. On the front page of today's Beacon News (landing shortly on driveways everywhere) you'll find a story I wrote about Honor Flight Chicago's maiden voyage to Washington, on June 11. I talked to vets and guardians (usually friends and relatives of the veterans, who pay their own way and volunteer their time), and one thing I heard over and over about the trip was this: it's a long, exhausting day.
Our day begins at the home of Aurora Navy veteran Richard Williams. (His birth certificate says Stanley, but he never uses it.) Richard is going on the flight, and we're going to film him getting ready, saying goodbye to his wife, and going to the airport. Richard's also legally blind, so we've agreed to drive him to Piper's Banquets in Aurora, where a City of Aurora-chartered bus will take him and other local veterans to Midway Airport.
I'm traveling light - a laptop, a notebook, and three pens. I hope to come back with a treasure trove of stories, impressions and experiences. It's going to be a long, exhausting day (and I'm 34 - imagine how it will be for the 90-year-old veterans!), but I'm excited. And as soon as I post this, I'm off.
4:00 A.M.
We're on the bus now, headed to Midway. The City of Aurora chartered a luxury bus for the trip, and about 20 Aurora area veterans took advantage of it. I'm here with most of the guys I've met over the last few weeks - Merritt King, Jim Taff, Don Thompson, Lawrence Black, Gil Dumdie. Sen. Bob Mitchler is here too.
At about 2:30 a.m., we arrived at Richard Williams' house, and met his wife Christine and his dog Buttons. Richard says he's not one for sitting around and telling stories, but he's already given us a couple of amazing ones. The theme for the morning was miracles, and Richard related tales of soldiers dodging bullets, and surviving the impossible. One man he told us about took a bullet to the head, but that bullet bounced around inside his helmet, tearing up the lining and leaving not a single scratch on the soldier's head.
"Miracles can happen," he said, and I've heard other people say that through the years, but few I believe more than Richard Wiliams. Miracles can happen.
Richard's eyesight is all but gone - he leans in close to read signs, and though he has a talent for calligraphy and art, he can't see well enough to use that talent anymore. But he writes poetry, still. And he's written one for this trip, which he's kindly allowed me to publish here:
HONORING THE HONOR FLIGHT PEOPLE
It goes without saying we're glad we're alive
To witness this Honor Flight gesture for vets
To see how a volunteer effort can thrive
A reach-out-and-touch trip that no one forgets
No way may a "thank you" be adequate here
No way may we show how grateful we feel
Conversely, we'd like to give you a big cheer
For making A Day to Remember so real
There's a huge gap between thought and the deed
The work that goes in to all this is immense
We're grateful you recognized merit and need
But here you have done it without recompense
So give yourselves credit, look on it with pride
We hope we can give you a moment to share
But more to the point, we must wisely confide
We're humbled to find there are people who care
This photo by staff photographer Heather Eidson was taken moments after Richard Williams gave the above poem to Mary Pettinato, Honor Flight Chicago vice president (back to camera), prior to departing from Midway Airport:
7:00 A.M.
We're in the plane now, flying just above 10,000 feet. But it's not just any plane - Southwest Airlines has secured Illinois One, the brand-new 737 with the awe-inspiring eagle painted on it. It's been a long morning already, but so far, I'm impressed with Honor Flight's attention to detail, and genuine concern for the safety of these veterans.
We arrived at the airport at around 4:30 a.m., and were greeted by volunteers with signs, who spared no time in thanking our local vets for their service. The Honor Flight folks were incredibly well-organized in the terminal, and each veteran was assigned a guardian to walk and talk with. These guardians have been fully trained, and they know how to anticipate the needs of these vets.
As we all made it through security and trundled down to the gate, we were met by a huge contingent of volunteers and military personnel, all there to wish our veterans well. And it was incredible - they walked out, met people, took pictures, and above all, expressed overwhelming gratitude.
I saw one young soldier walk up to one of our veterans and say, "We wouldn't be here today if it weren't for you," and though he tried to hide it, the old vet's face showed a flash of pride for a second. That was nice to see.
Only one veteran, Amos Nicholson of Aurora, showed up in his full uniform. He came decked out in medals, and completed the look with his original-issue hat. (The medals, as well as Nicholson's pacemaker, caused a brief flurry of concern at the security gate, but all was well within moments.) Many wondered how he could still fit into his old uniform, and Nicholson just laughed.
So far, it's been a sincere and moving tribute to our local veterans, and we haven't even arrived in D.C. yet.
9:30 A.M.
HEATHER EIDSON / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Volunteers and passengers cheer as they land at Dulles International Airport Wednesday for the Honor Flight Chicago trip that takes World War II veterans to the Washington D.C. memorial.
Our arrival into Dulles International Airport was something else.
First, the Honor Flight folks arranged for two fire trucks, one on either side of the plane, to give us a water cannon salute as we rolled into the gate. The reaction was wonderful. Seriously, an entire airplane full of 80 to 90-year-old men oohing and aahing, then erupting into spontaneous applause.
Then, as the veterans walked into the terminal, a crowd - literally, a crowd - of volunteers cheered for them, waved flags and thanked them for their service. The look of pride and gratitude on the faces of these veterans is something I won't forget any time soon. Everyone I've talked to is having an incredible time.
Here's a good example - Lawrence Black of Oswego. Last time I saw him, more than a week ago, Larry was very emotional, especially when he thought about this trip. He cried, repeatedly, when talking about his time in the service, and about his hopes for his visit to the memorial. I worried that he would be too overcome with emotion to enjoy himself.
I was so wrong. Larry's having the time of his life, grinning from ear to ear as he gets a free ride in his wheelchair. He's downright chatty, talking with his fellow vets and reminiscing, and even though the best he will say is, "This is pretty good," he's clearly loving every minute.
We're in a bus now headed to the memorial. More soon.
2:00 P.M. (Eastern time)
HEATHER EIDSON / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Lawrence Black, of Oswego, sees the World War II memorial for the first time Wednesday moments before a flag ceremony held at the Washington D.C. monument. Black and fellow WWII veterans from the Chicagoland area visited the memorial as part of Honor Flight Chicago.
We've just boarded the bus after touring the World War II memorial, and I'm still taking it all in.
You could say the memorial is massive and overwhelming, but that would be understating the case by a wide margin. It's huge - it takes up an enormous piece of the mall between the Lincoln and Washington memorials, and its centerpiece is a gorgeous fountain, water arcing into a shimmering pool. There are two stone arches, one on either side, representing the Atlantic and Pacific theaters, and 56 stone columns, one for each of the 50 states and six territories of the U.S.
It was a sight to see, even from a distance, and just amazing once you walk inside it. I gave myself about 10 minutes to just stare in open-mouthed astonishment at the grandeur of the whole thing, before reminding myself that I was there to watch our veterans watching the monument.
And they had many different reactions to it. Some sat down and absorbed it from one spot, some roamed and read all the inscriptions. Some told me they were thinking about their fallen brothers, while some just enjoyed the chance to see such a magnificent monument. Senator Bob Dole and Rep. Bill Foster stopped by to meet veterans and pose for pictures, and our local guys enjoyed that immensely.
"Three months ago, I never dreamt I'd get to see this," said Raymond Janus of Aurora, a sentiment I heard echoed over and over again. James Taff of St. Charles said that his ailing wife encouraged him to go on this trip - it was the family's economic situation, worsened by her illness, that had kept him from making the journey on his own.
We're on the way to the Iwo Jima Memorial now, and though we're all exhausted - especially the older veterans among us - we're all elated. For me, getting to see the monument was wonderful, but getting to see the looks on these veterans' faces as they saw the memorial was magical.
2:30 P.M. (Eastern time)
HEATHER EIDSON / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Gordon Schnulle of Elgin waits at Dulles International Airport for the bus that will take him and his fellow veterans to the World War II memorial as part of Honor Flight Chicago.
Speaking of magical, I just saw something that will stay with me forever.
In the shadow of the Iwo Jima Memorial, which is in itself just an incredible thing, Elgin Marine Gordon Schnulle just read a list of the 18 servicemen from his hometown that landed on that beach, a number that includes Schnulle himself. All but three are gone now. When he finished the list, honoring each man in turn, Schnulle dumped out a box of sand from the actual beach at Iwo Jima, sand which he personally collected while he was there.
It was a moving, impromptu ceremony, one man's attempt to honor his fallen bretheren, and it was met with tears, hugs, salutes and cries of "Hoo-rah!" from the Marines present. What an amazing thing to witness. Just amazing.
5:45 P.M. (Eastern time)
We're on a bus heading back to the airport now, after taking a whirlwind tour of Washington, D.C. After leaving the Iwo Jima memorial, we drove past several landmarks, including the White House, the Pentagon, the National Archives and the Smithsonian Museum. When we finally stopped, it was to see the Lincoln, Korean War and Vietnam War memorials.
During that brief stay, we followed Richard Williams to the Lincoln Memorial. Before taking the trip to D.C., Richard had promised himself he would climb the steps and see Lincoln. I asked him why it was so important to him, and he whipped out a quotation attributed to Lincoln, one he lives by:
"I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me won't amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference."
After scaling Lincoln (which Richard said was much easier than he anticipated), we wandered back and joined the group at an outdoor café. We sat near a group of other vets, including Bernard Edelman of Lincolnshire, who started telling stories. Edelman was a prisoner of war for more than two years, shuttling back and forth between German POW camps before being liberated by the Russians, and his tales were fascinating.
And before long, Richard joined in with stories of his own. And I just sat back and listened to these wise men, who have seen more than I will ever see, and who love their country in ways so much deeper than I can begin to understand. As much as I enjoyed seeing the memorials and walking around the city, listening to these stories may have been the highlight of my day.
The sun is setting now over Washington, and the day is pretty much done. We're all tired, worn out and sore. But you won't hear a single complaint, you won't see a single face without a smile. But there are still a few more surprises in store for our veterans (I know about them, but have been sworn to secrecy). It's been a wonderful, emotional, moving day, and it's not over quite yet.
10:45 P.M. (Back on Central time)
I am, right now, speechless.
I mean, I'm not actually speechless, because I'm going to find some words right now, but "speechless" is a good word to sum up how I feel. I'm on a bus right now, heading back to Aurora from Midway Airport with a bunch of very happy, justifiably proud veterans who just received the most breathtaking welcome home party of their lives.
For weeks, the Honor Flight folks have been asking for volunteers to come and greet the veterans on their way off the plane. They got a few hundred, waving signs and banners and flags, with various family members mixed in. And these people mobbed the arrivals gate, and filled the baggage claim area, just to thank our local vets for their service.
If that had been all, it still would have been moving, but the Honor Flighters weren't done. An Army color guard stood in formation near the gate, saluting as the veterans walked through. (And most saluted back.) And in the baggage area, a drum corps played while another color guard formed a tunnel with flags, and people shouted welcomes and thanks.
You should have seen the looks on the faces of our old soldiers. No one expected a welcome quite like this, and there were tears and smiles and hugs all around. It was an unbelievable emotional high, a surprise capper to an extraordinary day. I heard so many veterans say how honored and grateful they were, how this welcome home will stay with them.
They didn't forget us, these veterans said. They remembered, and they appreciated. And as many of them said, they'll never be able to adequately describe how much that means.
And I heard, time and time again, what a feat of logistics the whole day was. There are still some things I can't tell you about, things I've sworn to keep secret. But everything was incredibly well-planned, and went off without a hiccup. The generosity on display was astonishing - the guardians paid their own way for today's trip, and took every measure to make sure the veterans had everything they needed. The vets paid for nothing, and got memories they will treasure for years to come.
I am worn out, physically and emotionally. It was a draining day, in the best possible sense of the word. But I'm also excited to see the photos we took, watch the videos we shot, and start working out how to tell this amazing story. Keep checking our Web site throughout the weekend, as we roll out our stories and videos.
I want to extend one final thank you to the Honor Flight Chicago team, and especially to our local veterans, who shared their stories and their thoughts with us today. We hope to do you proud.
I proudly await with anticipation the stories, blog and videos for A Flight to Remember for a dear friend, Richard Williams, and all the other WWII veterans accompanying him on this wonderful journey.
His stories are always fascinating to hear as are those from my father, Roger Bartleman, a Korean war veteran now age 79. He always felt he missed being able to be in WWII by two years.
In Jan 2008, I discovered a box belonging to my mother containing wedding information and about 50 letters my Dad wrote to her during the war from 1949-1953 before they were married. He describes in detail what were his responsbilities, where he was, endless discussion of mess hall food or lack thereof when in the battlefield, the other men in the Army and civiians he encountered along the way. Dad taught all his children to count to ten in Japanese and I can still remember them all today.
My hat is off with pride to all veterans for your service in maintaining our freedom which comes at a price. The other men and women who lost their lives were not in vain. I salute all veterans regardless of what war they fought. They gave it all for us and I continue to be proud to be called an American!
This is wonderful! I wish I could be there tonight to meet the plane when it returns! I know my friend Richard Williams will regale us with detailed accounts of his day, and I look forward to every word.
This is an incredible gift to these men, so they will know their efforts and sacrifices are remembered and appreciated even now, so many years after.
My thanks to everyone who made this possible for Richard and the other veterans. I hope these flights will continue so that others may experience the gratitude and affection of so many total strangers who are taking the time to say "thank you."
I too wish - I could be a part of the return 'greeting' flight tonight as Richard Williams has been a friend for many years. The attempt to fly today (for me) to be among the people to honor the veterans home - just didn't work out ... Richard - WELCOME HOME!
As said in earlier remarks - the wonderful people that make this possible are among the 'heros' ... what a fantastic way to honor ALL of those that have served our Country!
Great coverage by the Beacon on this and the prior Honor Flight. Honor Flight is a national organization and has been flying hundreds of WWII vets fron all over the country to the Memorial.
It's wonderful that Chicago now has its own chapter.
Those of us who are the sons and daughters of these veterans need to make certain that these flights can continue by donating time and dollars. The national website for Honor Flight is www.honorflight.org. I wish that my dad, who was a veteran of the Battle of Iwo Jima, had lived to see what are now two memorials to his service.
What a wonderful thing that is being done for these guys. Thank you for the coverage. As a Viet Nam Vet I went to the wall for the 1st time last year and visited the WWII memorial also. What a moving tribute to the greatest generation.
The story about the Iwo Jima veteran made me cry. I can only imagine the emotions that went through, not just the veteran, but all those watching his private salute to the men who were his friends.
I realized that, in my previous submission, I inadvertently referred to the vererans as "these men," thereby ignoring the service of all the women who were in the same theaters at the same time. My apologies for not acknowledging these brave women.
Yep, That's my Dad, Larry Black. This is such a wonderful experience, for him and the other vets that so very much deserve this acknowledgement and recognition. I've been watching this blog all day and will continue thoughout the day. What a fantastic way to honor them and to let them know that their commitment to our country has not gone unnoticed. I'm not in the area anymore, the Beacon News has been helping me to follow this for the past week and and that is so much appreciated. My dad never spoke of any of his time in the service so this is also giving me another view of my father. I am very proud. I would personally like to Thank all of the vets, from all of our wars for keeping us alive, safe and free. I would also like to thank the Beacon News for continuing to run this very important story, Fantastic job. And Honor Flight, what can I say....You have all been unbelievable.....THANK YOU ... I wish that my father-in-law, Don Beardsley (aka Unkie), was still here to have gone with, what a wonderful man he was. One more thing, I wonder if all my dad has been through, if it prepared him for raising me??? Thank You again
Thank You, Beacon News for covering this important event. And thank you Mary P. for the compassion, joy, and love you are sharing by organizing The Honor Flight. My dad is on there today, Bob Palis--along with several of his buddies. They are great men who have continued meeting every year to celebrate their success in WWII...even when sometimes the rest of the nation failed to notice. God Bless all of these Honor Flight travelers and those who will benefit in the future from Mary's kindness and hard work organizing this event. The grandkids and daughters will be there tonight to see dad return. The pictures will be awesome!
My father, Walter Tomer, passed away in August 2004. He never discussed his years in the service during WWII; however, after his death, we found an amazing treasure...his Bronze Star (which we never knew about) as well as a scrapbook that detailed his entire four-year mission, complete with dates, locations, names of transport ships, and pictures of his comrades. Our surviving veterans are a national treasure; the courage, loyalty and steadfastness they have displayed, not only during their service but also throughout the rest of their lives, changed our world and the generations who followed them. To those on today's Honor Fligh, thank you! And to those who have passed, may they rest in peace.
I got a call a few minutes ago from an Aurora woman named Arlene Carpenter. She's been reading this blog, and wanted me to post this article about her uncle Joe, who was recently honored for his World War II service. Thanks for calling, Arlene.
I finally have enough time to catch up on my email, settle back after my day today and check out your blog. I want to say that you (Andre) and Heather have done a great job of capturing the essence of Honor Flight Chicago's June 25 flight as well as our purpose. I am looking forward to your continued coverage. Thank you.
I know our Veterans come away from these flights with incredible memories, emotional highs and many new friends. But the Guardians return home with as many wonderful memories and are as affected as any of our Veterans. My two Veterans were Mr. Williams and Mr. Dumdie, (Richard and Gilbert). These men have very different personalities and backgrounds, but they share two things: They were with a "Band of Brothers" and they would experience a lot of unfamiliar emotions. Richard is reserved and the poet; Gilbert is the "entertainer". I love them both!
It is an awesome privilege to be able to spend 18 hours with all of these true hero's of our "greatest generation". I have witnessed the transformation of these great men over the day and one thing stands out: The difference between early morning and late night.
Our flight to D.C. is generally subdued. Angst regarding what's coming, unknown people around you, concern about what emotions or feelings they might be subjected to all tend to keep our men sort of quiet. As the day goes on there is a "trans-morgrification" (from Calvin and Hobbs) of these men from reserved to outright joviality.
You would think that after waking up at "Oh Dark Hundred, getting to the airport by 0430, checking in, going through TSA, flying to D.C., getting on and off the bus (5 times), walking 5-10 miles, they would be dog tired. NO! Not these guys. On the plane back, they are animated and talking more than they have in a long time. They have no time for sleep right now. Too much has happened during the day and they want to savor every minute. They have a spring in their step and are walking much taller than they were a 0600 this morning. They are pumped up and I know from experience they will be like this for weeks and I hope for years.
I will continue to be a Guardian and Honor Flight Chicago board member for as long as I am able, because I have found something to be passionate about, This is something I feel the NEED to do for these men who have only a short time left to see, remember and reminisce on an incredible achievement and humble bravery they exhibited during the most horrific war our world has ever experienced.
Our web site is: www.honorflightchicago.org. Your support is greatly appreciated and additional support is needed to get our Veterans to this memorial before it's too late. Thank you.
Duane E. Werth, Board Member
(Airport Logistics, Guardian and Honor Flight Evangelist)
Honor Flight Chicago
Honor Flight Chicago is a wonderful, wonderful effort that my family and I are very excited to be involved in. Andre Salles' accounts of the day and the photographs that are being published are very much appreciated by everyone involved in this effort. The Beacon News is to be congratulated for the several days of coverage it is giving to these men and this effort. It is what the community wants to read and hear about!! It provides balance.
Beyond the gratitude and appreciation expressed to our Veterans of that War and the emotional affect it has on these great men, there is more. Like the proverbial pebble in the pond, this effort has far reaching momentum. As a guardian on this flight, my recently retired husband (and VietNam Navy vet)has found a renewed passion for volunteerism and being so up close and personal with the results of his efforts is a spiritual and emotional high for him. It was opporuntiy to discuss history, sacrifice and patriotism with the all the younsgters in the Welcome Home crowd at Midway. For all of us waiting anxiously for the group to arrive, we had open and honest communication about our experiences and what it means to our loved one and it was so effortless to have these discussions. Getting to talk to the young National Guardsman also here to pay tribute was very sepcial. Their smiles as we thanked them for their service were genuine and uplifting. Thank you Honor Flight, Thank you Andre, Thank you Beacon News.
Wow! What a great cause and what a great organization. My family attended the "welcome home" ceremony and it was awesome to see these veterans receive the recognition, respect and honor they so deserve.
The guardians, the Honor Flight organization and the Beacon News crew did a remarkable job executing and memorializing this event and making this such a special day for the veterans. Thank you to all involved in making Honor Flights possible and especially to Mary Pettitano for her leadership. I hope all who read these stories and blogs will be inspired to support this cause so that every living WWII veteran will have an opportunity to visit the memorial and to be recognized.
Glenn Luckinbill
To Andre and Heather and the folks at the Beacon News - thank you for helping to make our veterans' day yesterday even better! We're looking forward to further stories and your recap of the day.
This really is a short-term opportunity for all of us to learn the stories of our WWII veterans and to really come to understand the magnitude of what they accomplished, in so doing protecting the freedoms many of us take for granted.
We invite all of you to visit our website at honorflightchicago.org to learn more about what we're doing to honor our veterans, as we take them as our guests on a trip to Washington that will confirm the gratitude and respect of the American people. It gladdens my heart when we see strangers, especially children, approach our vets to thank them and shake their hands. The vets are so touched by this recognition. They are so humble and ask so little that every detail of the trip is a gift to them.
Please join us, either as a guardian or a volunteer - or make a donation so that we may take as many veterans to Washington as possible. Thank you - God bless you.
Jeanmarie Kapp, President, Honor Flight Chicago
Thank you Beacon News for such amazing coverage of this event.
I am priveleged to be a volunteer with Honor Flight Chicago. It is a wonderful organization full of dedicated people that are focused on their mission to fly our veterans to DC to see THEIR memorial.
I was one of the guardians on the flight--what a day! Gordon Schnulle's reading at Iwo Jima will always be one of my fondest memories. He is a wonderful man and I'm so glad that I was able to spend time with him on our trip.
I cannot explain to everyone how amazing it is to share this day with the veterans. It is a true honor. Their stories are so touching and so real. I learned so much about the war during our trip...stories that you'll never find in a history book. For that I am eternally grateful!
Veterans, thank you for one of the best days of my life! I will remember you all forever and ever. You truly are The Greatest Generation!
I was priviledged to serve as my father's guardian on the second Honor Flight sponsored by your organization. I am an active member of the American Legion, Department of Washington; and as I read the comments above it struck me how similar and dis-similar all veterans are. It is so true that most of their stories never come to light for their families until they are gone. Then we say things like "I never knew, or I wish I had known". So it seems to me that one of the little known benefits of HonorFlight.org and HonorFlightChicago.org will be the oral history that families of those veterans will have the opportunity learn. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to thank not only my father, but also the others who served their country. Now, I look forward to returning home to see if we can start a chapter of your organization in Washington State.
I had the delightful pleasure of escorting Bernard Edelman(90) and Alvin Johnson(81), both retired and living in Grayslake, throughout the day at the WW II Memorial and Korean Mem., Lincoln Mem., an a bus tour of D.C. When we met one another at Midway at 4:00 A.M., they seemed a little bewildered. They kept asking me,'who are all these people' and 'why are they doing this'. At every turn of events and every stage of the day, many men, women, and children would come up to them and thank them for their service to our country. They acknowleged their sacrifices(Bernard was POW for 27 months) and they expressed their thanks. One family said, "if it wasn't for you guys, we would never have been born or had a family of our own. Thanks for the freedoms me enjoy." Again and again, my two Veterans word speechless. Even the children that thanked them seemed to grasp the ideas that these men that we traveled with were real HEROES. And when they did, you kid see the awe sweep over their little faces. After a long and wonderful day, we exited the plane to thunderous applause, scouts, military, and family. And again, they asked, who are all these people and where did they come from. An finally, as we passed through the the rows of Color Guard to the beat of the Drum Corps of the JROTC, and more applause and shouts of Hip, Hip Hoorah, it finally seemed to sink. The day wasn't about all those people and who they were and where they came from. The day was about who THEY were and where they had been, and what they had done. It was about them, the HEROES of WW II, the men and women who fought, were wounded and died to save the world from tyranny, to save a generation from anihalation, to save a world from total destruction. It was about Bernard and Alvin and a million more veterans that we love and cherish and honor wih our day in Washington.
Joe Lawler, Volunteer Coordinator and Board Member
The Beacon News is to be congratulated for the coverage given to Honor Flight Chicago. Your writer ANDRE SALLES and photographer HEATHER EDISON deserve much credit for the pictures, blogs and stories they have prepared. WOW! can they tell a story!!
They showed their professionalism and you can be proud of them.
The story about our World War II Veterans and their visit to their memorial will put you in AWE!!!
I was honored to serve as a guardian for my neighbor Edward Wagner of Montgomery. He just received a new pace maker a week ago. I was with him from 2:00 A.M. until 11:30 P.M. He was so excited I was afraid he wouldn't sleep when he got home. I saw his emotions on a roller coaster throughout the day. I saw him today and he is still on cloud 9. He has started a scrap book and wants me to get him all the information I can.
I want to thank all the staff of Honor Flight Chicago, Jeanmarie Kapp, Kimberly Romanosky, Mary Pettinato, the board and all the Guradians. What a great service you are doing for our World War II Veterans. YOU MADE MORE THAN THEIR DAY - YOU REKINDLED THEIR LIFE!!!!!
Herschel Luckinbill
US Navy 1964-1968
Thank you to all the Veterans that gave so much for our country. My father, Retired Colonel Edward L. Mills, was in the Air Force and passed away in February 2008. I wish he were alive to be a part of this outstanding experience. The articles and blogs about the flights for Veterans bring tears to my eyes and makes me understand more about all the sacrifices that were made so that we have our freedom today.
To honor my father and his comrades, I recently decided to volunteer with Honor Flight Chicago and their awesome efforts to give our WWII Veterans a day they will never forget. Presently, I have the privelege of making calls to the Vet's and their families, answering simple questions and mailing out a few applictions. It doesn't take much of my time but gives me so much in return. A few calls come from families, and friends but mostly from the Veterans themselves. I hear the pride and passion in their voices as they speak of who they served under and where they were stationed. When told that the flight is free to them, it is usually met with a few moments of silence. It as if they can't believe that they are actually being honored for thier part in a war that they believed has long since been forgotten
I pray that the donations are being made to create the number of flights needed to make this dream a reality for all these wonderful men and women who served our country. To everybody who, after reading about the flight, is thinking of their loved one who served, I hope that you will pass it on. Come up with a creative way to raise a few dollars to donate. Suggest to a local youth group to hold a car wash or rummage sale to benefit Honor Flight Chicago. It will not only raise funds for the flight but can also help remind the youth about the sacrifices others made for their freedom.
A special thanks to all those at Honor Flight Chicago that give so much of their heart and soul to make this happen AND to the reporters that brought this to the public in such a accurate and heartfelt way.
Let's all Pay It Forward!!
Bette Nahas
Thank you. Thank you. Thank You.
Andre and Heather did an excellent job of capturing the spirit and mood of the day. I had the distinct pleasure of accompany a veteran on the trip. The flight, the day, the experience will always stay with me. It is one of the most memorable days of my life. I am happy to say that I will always be involved with Honor Flight. It is an amazing organization that truly provides a wonderfully meaningful experience for our Veterans.
One of the most moving memories of the day happened at the Korean War Memorial. While we were there a man of Asian descent approached us. By the time he came up to us he had tears in his eyes. He was Korean and warmly embraced and thanked our Veterans for their service in his country. He spoke very little English but there was no doubt the message was sincere and gracious.
There is no doubt in my mind that this was one of the best days for our Vets. Through out the day all I kept hearing from the veterans was thank you. I asked them, “Why would you thank us?” and there reply was, “…for taking the time and remembering us." As I told Wayne, John, Bob, and Bob, the Sub Guy’s, “It was an absolute pleasure to be with them.” I thanked them for allowing me to be a part of their day. I left the day feeling energized and excited to see how I could help Honor Flight in the future. I am also very excited to say that due to my experience I will be taking my grandfather, a WWII Vet himself, on a future flight!!!
Thank you to everyone involved. And special thanks to the Sub Guys for allowing me to be a part of your trip!!!
Opportunity of a Lifetime...
Words cannot describe the feeling of pride I have in the veterans who took part in this trip, and the generation of people they represent. Being in the presence of these men for a full day, witnessing first hand the commerodary, appreciation, strength, and unfiltered emotion is something I will never forget.
I had the pleasure of escorting Delmar Bond, a Korean War veteran whose last flight was the one that brought him back to Chicago after his tour of duty in Korea was complete over 53 years ago. He is a proud Marine who clearly experienced things that no training could possibly prepare someone for. He, like many of the men we met this day, humbly looked at his service as just one chapter of life.
I truly believe that Mr. Bond (like most of the veterans) never imagined the spectacle created by the memorials that commemorate the World War II, Korean, and Vietnam War veterans. To see these memorials along side the Washington Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Arlington Cemetery, and many other tributes to American history really drove home the way American’s feel about their veterans. I believe this created a sense of accomplishment, and peace of mind that America truly values the efforts that he his fellow soldiers made. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to be a part of it.
I believe the Honor Flight Chicago team deserves a tremendous amount of credit for the planning and execution of such a logistical accomplishment. The effort it takes to: spread the awareness to identify the veterans, find and train a group of caring guardians and volunteer nurses (who fund their own way), coordinate the meals and transportation, and arrange for the overwhelming number of ways these men are honored throughout the day. This team is comprised of very special people who wear their hearts on their sleeves and show how much they appreciate this generation of people who represent their own mothers and fathers or grandmothers and grandfathers who may not have been able to experience such a wonderful day. This organization is truly special.
Thank you to the Beacon News for covering such an amazing cause. The only way we will insure that as many WWII vets as possible see this memorial is through publications that truly understand and appreciate the efforts these people put forth. Andre and Heather did a great job documenting this day, and played a very special role in making these gentlemen feel appreciated.
What a truly wonderful tribute to our heroes!
After reading the live blog and hearing first-hand accounts from other volunteers, I have quickly submitted my guardian application. These veterans are truly special people who have sacrificed so much so that we can enjoy the liberties we have today. I only wish there was more I could do to show my admiration and appreciation for there efforts. My late grandfather was a veteran of WWII and Korea, and I look at this opportunity as a way to say thank you, and to show how proud I am of him as well.
My hats off to the Honor Flight Chicago staff for all they do to make this wonderful experience come true.
Thank you Beacon News for this wonderful tribute to the Greatest Generation.
Our veterans can never be re-payed for the sacrifices they made at a time when the world was a dark place and the outcome of the war was unknown.
My Dad, Earl A Johnson served in the European Theater of Operations in WW II. Unfortunately my Dad passed away in 1996 and never saw the completion of this wonderful memorial.
God Bless all our Veterans and God Bless America.
As a long time subscriber to the Naperville Sun, a volunteer for Honor Flight Chicago, and the son of a World War II Veteran (Army) I want to thank
- The Naperville Sun and Beacon News for devoting the time and efforts of its staff to report on this program,
- Andre Salles, Heather Eidson, Paige Winfield, and Danielle Gardner for their professional, sensitive, and enthusiastic reporting of this flight and the work of Honor Flight (the stories and photos were very moving),
- The leadership of Honor Flight Chicago and the volunteers for paying attention to all of the details needed to make these flights the memorable days they are for the WW II Veterans,
- The guardians for taking the time to make sure that the Veterans can experience the day fully without having to worry about how they are going to get from one place to the next safely, and
- MOST OF ALL to the WORLD WAR II VETERANS for making the sacrifices needed to preserve our freedom in our darkest hour.
I only wish that my Father and Father-in-law were here to take one of these flights.
Thank you again,
Jack Medor
I had the wonderful opportunity to take the Honor Flight with our distinquished veterans on June 24,2008. I feel truly blessed to have had the opportunity to see the WWII Memorial with my dad, Harold Kalbas,and with Frank and Stanley! My daughter Julianne and I acted as their guardians during the trip, but we both now consider all of them special treasures in our lives. We walked together from the Pacific Pavilion to the Atlantic Pavilion, and listened to stories from men who served our country with integrity, honor and dedication. Every inch of the memorial had a story to tell and I was proud to spend the day with them.
ANDRE SALLES truly captured in words the essence of the experience and its special meaning for veterans and guardians! HEATHER EIDSON's photos truly captured the incredible day we all had together!
Thank you to both of them for the great work.
It is with a great deal of pleasure that I write to thank the Beacon News for your wonderful coverage leading up to and on the day of the June 25th Honor Flight Chicago trip. My fellow World War II veteran Jim Taff and I were honored to be included that day along with 58 other Illinois veterans and 40 guardians. My daughter Alison was thrilled to be selected to go along as one of the guardians for the day.
I also want to commend the excellent work of Beacon News reporter Andre Salles and photo/videographer Heather Eidson. The Beacon couldn’t have selected two better representatives for the trip to Washington DC that day. The local veterans readily observed Andre’s enthusiasm and interest when we met with him during interviews prior to the June 25th flight. And on the actual day of the trip, from 2:30 a.m., throughout the day, and until we disembarked from the bus in Aurora at 11:30 p.m., Andre and Heather were the perfect team. They were dedicated to the “mission” and passionate about honoring the veterans and the purpose of this Honor Flight Chicago trip. They spent the entire day interviewing the veterans and uploading words and photos throughout the day. I don’t think any of us ever saw them take a break or be idle. The coverage, interviews, photographs, video and special Honor Flight Chicago website are all evidence of the hard work and dedication they put into capturing the day.
Thank you to the Beacon News and to Andre and Heather for honoring all my fellow World War II veterans. Thank you also for sharing the mission of Honor Flight Chicago so eloquently through the words, photos and videos you published in your paper and on your website. Thank you to Honor Flight Chicago, a terrific organization with a wonderful and passionate board of directors and group of volunteers and guardians. June 25th was a trip of a lifetime.
I would like first off to thank the men who served our country with honor and dignity during WWII, for a cause never seen since. I am so very thankful for Honor Flight Chicago for giving these men the opportunity to visit the WWII memorial. I had the honor of welcoming home the men on Honor Flight III in August, and I highly recommend that if there are future flights that more members of the public participate in such a historic event to thank these Veterans for their service and to welcome them home from Washington D.C. to show that we all still care deeply for the sacrifices they made, and the loss of so many of their friends. After viewing the video of the first honor flight, it inspired me to join the USO, so that I may continue to help the Men and Women in service today fighting for, and protecting our Country. God bless our entire Service Men and Women world wide, and thank all of those who gave their lives to protect ours.