Meeting the Honor Flight

Last night, June 14, Rose and I went to the Springfield airport to welcome home a group of 160 WWII veterans, including our friend, Bob Silger, who had spent the day in Washington D.C.  I discovered on our way to the airport that I had forgotten to bring my camera, which was a big disappointment.  However, after being there, I decided that neither words nor pictures could completely portray the evening.  When we arrived, the parking lot was completely full; we parked in the rental car lot.  People were walking into the main terminal wearing red, white and blue and waving flags.  The entire hallway by the ticket counter was lined with people.  As we waited, members of the Honor Flight ground crew would update us regarding the progress of the veterans and their guardians.  "Be patient.  There are 54 of these guys in wheelchairs.  They've had a long day.  They're going to be tired.  You're never going to get them to stop talking about this!"  Nobody seemed to mind the wait.  Finally, we heard bagpipes and a wave of clapping farther down the corridor.  The first veteran to come by us was a woman in a wheelchair.  She was followed by 159 more veterans and their guardians.  It was an amazing sight.  These men who served this country in their youth were now in varying stages of old age.  They walked or were pushed all the way down the hallway, shaking hands, greeting loved ones, thanking people for coming out, some with tears in their eyes, to the continual resounding applause of appreciative fellow Americans.  All around, I heard people saying, "Thank you.  Thank you for serving.  Welcome home."  With or without pictures, it was a scene to remember!