Note from my Dad…
Hi Kids,
A short note to let you know I will be a guardian on this final flight of WWII veterans out of the Rochester Airport. The flight director called me several nights ago and asked if I could make the trip. I didn’t see any physical restrictions – I’ve been cutting firewood in recent days.
I’ll be at the airport around 4:40 AM. The flight of 120 veterans, 55 guardians, 2 doctors, 3 EMTs, 2 photographers, and 85 wheel chairs will depart around 6:30 for the 2 hour flight. When we arrive at Reagan National in DC, we will have an additional 34 volunteers who will be with us for the day.
The day will be spent viewing the WWII Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Marine Memorial (Iwo Jima), the Navy and Air Force Memorials, Arlington National Cemetery, and a tour of “downtown” DC. Lunch will be at the Woman’s Memorial in Arlington along with meals on the flights.
The veterans will have a very emotional day. They will be thanked by a grateful public at the airport and at all the memorials. Many will want to shake their hand, ask about their service, ask to have their picture taken, hugged, and kissed.
We will return to Rochester around 9:40 PM. As a surprise, family members will have a long delayed homecoming waiting for them. Many family members come from out of state to be there. Others will join their veteran at the WWII Memorial. We will also have a surprise “mail call” aboard the flight to DC. Letters will be from the family, school children, friends, and others.
This will be our 10th flight out of Rochester. We will have flown around 1,030 WWII veterans to DC free of charge. I’ve been blessed to be on 8 of the 10 flights.
The weather will be perfect:
Dad
And to think we all bitch and moan when we have it tough… They deserve this and so much more…
More from Dad…
This is the last WWII Honor Flight out of Rochester. There are 5 other hubs in MN: Twin Cities, Duluth, St. Cloud, Tracy, and Luverne. They remain active – we have had the most flights…
Perhaps a group will step up and continue Honor Flight for the Korean War vets.