Time is running out for many of these vets to be able to visit the memorial that honors their service.
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Every single day, 900 WWII veterans nationally pass away. These are guys living their normal lives we don’t pay any attention to. They’re the guys who walk a little bit slower…they’re invisible to most of us. Not only out of the spotlight, but probably very much off to the side. We’re a country that takes a lot of things for granted. We take our way of life for granted…and I think we take our freedom for granted. — Charlie Sykes, WTMJ Radio
Those are the opening words to the film “Honor Flight,” which tells the story of how the Honor Flight movement came to fruition and blossomed here in the Badger State. It’s currently available for view on Netflix, and it’s more than worthy of the hour and a half you’ll spend sitting in front of your television or blowing off your “honey-do-it” list.
The Honor Flights are about paying respect to those who deserve it most – our nation’s veterans. Many who’ve served in various conflicts over the last seventy years have never been to the one place that dignifies them appropriately, Washington DC. The entire aim of the project is to give them the experience of visiting their memorials first-hand instead of seeing pictures in history books or on TV.
The film premiered in August 2012 at Miller Park in Milwaukee, and it was packed to the gills in every level of the stadium. The attendance set a Guinness world record of just under 30,000 people for a movie premiere.
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There is a sense of urgency, especially for what Tom Brokaw once called “The Greatest Generation.” They’re the ones who were born during the Great Depression and fought in WWII. One by one, our communities are losing them as they’re passing away in high numbers, roughly a thousand a day.
The film premiered in August 2012 at Miller Park in Milwaukee, and it was packed to the gills in every level of the stadium. The attendance set a Guinness world record of just under 30,000 people for a movie premiere. Even though it has a capacity of 41,900, the seating had to be reduced to accommodate the attendees watching the film on the 5,940 square feet video board.
It’s an incredible story, and it touches the soul on a profound level. It began a few years ago with a man in Ohio and his six-seat Cessna airplane, periodically shuffling a handful of vets to the nation’s capital as time and money would allow him. With the community’s help, fundraising and volunteering, it’s now become a full-fledged national event, complete with a capacity sized 747 jet flying the military’s old guard for a one day visitation a few times a year.
You don’t need a complex understanding of WWII to appreciate the importance of these visits, but it doesn’t hurt. Almost everyone has a lineage that somehow connects back to Europe and the Pacific from 1939-1945, as does my wife. My mother-in-law is French, and was a young girl during the Nazi occupation living in a little town called Toul not far from the German border.
She has vivid memories of things a nine-year old girl should never experience firsthand. Once in a while she indulges me with stories, but not often as they aren’t pleasant to discuss. That’s a common sentiment among veterans too as they witnessed first-hand some of the unmentionable atrocities of war. When these guys say “war is hell,” it’s not just a cliché.
Kurt, a good friend of mine, had the honor of escorting his father on the 20th Badger Honor Flight a few weeks ago. About 180 passengers were on the one-day voyage which included veterans from WWII, Korea and Vietnam as well as a host of volunteers that serve as guardians. Their job is to ensure the safety of all the vets and to escort them throughout the day as they visit the different attractions. In many cases, it’s a family member, but there are hundreds that serve and pay the $500 fee just for the privilege.
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Although his father didn’t actually see combat, the emotion of the trip was not lost on the technicality of his assignment, that of an airplane mechanic in Japan in the early 1950’s. When I asked Kurt what he thought of the experience, he had to think for a moment before telling me this:
As someone who was not in the service and grew up in a different time, it was, without question, an emotional experience for me… and surely, my father. I still get goosebumps thinking about the outpouring of love, support and appreciation. You would be amazed at the people on the sidewalks clapping, saluting, waving flags, etc. as well as the people who send you off, and the 5,000 people who welcome you back to Madison. This was an experience like none other I’ve ever had. I bet my Dad shook a thousand hands of people who thanked him for his service.
An honor guard is present, and there are endless handshakes, smiles and hugs. It’s the parade they never got the first time they returned.
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The conclusion of the trip could almost be considered the best part: the welcome home party. The veterans are greeted by thousands of people lined up along the airport concourse, and it’s not a quiet event. An honor guard is present, and there are endless handshakes, smiles and hugs. It’s the parade they never got the first time they returned. Tears are shed, but they aren’t of sadness. It’s a joyous occasion, focused on letting everyone know we’ll never forget their sacrifice.
I confess I’m a bit of a WWII buff, but not because I have some false romanticized concept of military battle. The French side of my family all still live in northeast France in the beautiful countryside where you can still find the markings of war.
I’ve only visited twice, but each time I go back, I learn more about it and how it forever touched them. Endless days and nights spent in a bomb shelter….a grandfather who blew up bridges for the French Underground….an uncle lost in a holding camp. My children share an equal interest, which thrills me as it’s important for them to have a grasp of how it impacted their direct family lineage. This is a part of our history. It’s a part of who we are.
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The next phase of the Honor Flight mission is to transport veterans of the Korean Conflict to Washington to see their monument. Korea has often been called “The Forgotten War” largely because it never resonated with the American public near as much as WWII did. Newspapers reported it, but Americans didn’t have the same level of interest as it wasn’t on the same scale as the previous two wars, plus the conditions and conclusions were very different than its counterpart.
That just makes the flights all the more important. The last thing we should ever do is try to forget.
My advice to you: Take the time. Watch the movie. And be thankful.
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Originally published on LinkedIn
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Photo: Getty Images