HONOR FLIGHT
My special thanks to each of you who wrote me “V-Mail” letters when I took the Veteran’s Memorial flight to Washington DC on April 26th. Let me tell you about the unusual event and what important part your letter played in the day’s event.
First, a bit about the Memorial Flights: over 117,000 World War II veterans have been on one. It began in 2005, about 10 years ago, as a totally voluntary, non-profit organization that operates across the country. Public contributions in each city underwrite the cost. I was on the 11th one from the Twin Cities. The next one is scheduled for October of this year. Tell any veterans of WW II to sign up early to get on the list.
On my flight there were 79 veterans and 79 “guardians” (volunteers who helped the veterans, when needed). Plus about 55 wheel chairs borrowed from our local VA Hospital. All WWII vets are now in our nineties. According to VA statistics approximately 16 million served, 1 million still alive, 500 dying daily, on an increasing curve. How long can the the flights continue? Do the math. Not pleasant.
We assembled at the Humphrey Terminal at 5 AM and were quickly aboard a chartered Sun Country airplane --- without the hassle of pre-check. (They even fed us both ways; like First Class nowadays). Three buses were waiting for us at the National Airport in Wash DC and we were on our way for a full day of stopping to tour many of our national monuments. Here they are: Air Force, World War II, Lincoln, Korean War, Iwo Jima, Women’s, and Changing of the Guard ceremony at Arlington Cemetery. Plus rides past the White House, Washington Memorial, etc, etc. Plus stops for box lunch and supper enroute. Full day, wouldn’t you say?
Getting all 150+ people on and off the bus at each site — including retrieving from the bellies of the buses and setting up all the wheel-chairs and stowing them back in afterwards —— I think you have the picture of a non-stop, well organized semi-military event it was.
We arrived back at Mpls about 11 PM, to find the terminal full of friends, family, and honor guards from the local military. Needless to say, we were all pooped from an exciting day. But felt honored.
About your personal addition mentioned above --- for me the most emotional part of the day --- was the opening the stack of V-Mails I received as we boarded the plane for take-off. It brought tears to my eyes. My guardian, Donna Maas, had folded each of your letters in the exact way that V-Mail was folded and the whole process was the exact replication of each time our ship received a load of mail — after a month or more of no contact whatsoever. Each of the men took his bundle of mail to a secluded spot on the ship and slowly, very slowly, opened and read and re-read each one. Each of the letters received during the war was so important. And likewise was the one you sent me this time. My special thanks for all your kind words. They meant so much to me.
Elliott
P.S. If you’re interested in knowing more about the phenomenal invention of WWII "V-Mail", go to Wikipedia. It was e-mail before its time.
My special thanks to each of you who wrote me “V-Mail” letters when I took the Veteran’s Memorial flight to Washington DC on April 26th. Let me tell you about the unusual event and what important part your letter played in the day’s event.
First, a bit about the Memorial Flights: over 117,000 World War II veterans have been on one. It began in 2005, about 10 years ago, as a totally voluntary, non-profit organization that operates across the country. Public contributions in each city underwrite the cost. I was on the 11th one from the Twin Cities. The next one is scheduled for October of this year. Tell any veterans of WW II to sign up early to get on the list.
On my flight there were 79 veterans and 79 “guardians” (volunteers who helped the veterans, when needed). Plus about 55 wheel chairs borrowed from our local VA Hospital. All WWII vets are now in our nineties. According to VA statistics approximately 16 million served, 1 million still alive, 500 dying daily, on an increasing curve. How long can the the flights continue? Do the math. Not pleasant.
We assembled at the Humphrey Terminal at 5 AM and were quickly aboard a chartered Sun Country airplane --- without the hassle of pre-check. (They even fed us both ways; like First Class nowadays). Three buses were waiting for us at the National Airport in Wash DC and we were on our way for a full day of stopping to tour many of our national monuments. Here they are: Air Force, World War II, Lincoln, Korean War, Iwo Jima, Women’s, and Changing of the Guard ceremony at Arlington Cemetery. Plus rides past the White House, Washington Memorial, etc, etc. Plus stops for box lunch and supper enroute. Full day, wouldn’t you say?
Getting all 150+ people on and off the bus at each site — including retrieving from the bellies of the buses and setting up all the wheel-chairs and stowing them back in afterwards —— I think you have the picture of a non-stop, well organized semi-military event it was.
We arrived back at Mpls about 11 PM, to find the terminal full of friends, family, and honor guards from the local military. Needless to say, we were all pooped from an exciting day. But felt honored.
About your personal addition mentioned above --- for me the most emotional part of the day --- was the opening the stack of V-Mails I received as we boarded the plane for take-off. It brought tears to my eyes. My guardian, Donna Maas, had folded each of your letters in the exact way that V-Mail was folded and the whole process was the exact replication of each time our ship received a load of mail — after a month or more of no contact whatsoever. Each of the men took his bundle of mail to a secluded spot on the ship and slowly, very slowly, opened and read and re-read each one. Each of the letters received during the war was so important. And likewise was the one you sent me this time. My special thanks for all your kind words. They meant so much to me.
Elliott
P.S. If you’re interested in knowing more about the phenomenal invention of WWII "V-Mail", go to Wikipedia. It was e-mail before its time.