The Honor Flight of My Dad, the WWII Veteran

It was the end of a long day for the 91 WWII veterans who left Chicago at 6:30 a.m. to tour War Memorials in Washington, D.C.  But 9:00 p.m. was the beginning of the celebration for us; those who were welcoming them home.  In the morning the veterans were nostalgically sent off with the Andrews- Sisters-style music of the Legacy Girls.  After arriving in Washington, the veterans toured the Lincoln Monument, the newly-constructed WWII memorial, the Korean memorial, the Viet Nam memorial, the Iwo Jima Memorial and the Udvar Hazy National Air and Space Museum.  And now at the end of their day a brass band played all the patriot songs while scads of volunteers donned in orange shirts passed out American flags to the friends and families who stood behind parade route guide ropes in Chicago Midway Airport Baggage Claim area. The bright faced, highly enthusiastic and helpful volunteers informed us of what the veterans in their 80’s and 90’s had experienced during the day and our role in welcoming them home.  The spirit of the crowd was high.  It didn’t take much imagination to put myself back at the end of WWII and be a grateful, relieved, joy-filled spectator at a “Welcome home, soldier” parade.  In Midway Airport the anticipation was growing and when the bagpipes began, we knew the first veterans were headed to the start of the procession. When we saw them we were almost hushed with awe.  Unlike 70 years ago, these were not young men and women, but people who had live their lives and for many a wheel chair or an oxygen tank were their constant companion.  However, I only saw one veteran break through the line of spectators to get to the restroom.

The volunteers led the way for us by reaching out to shake the gnarled hands of these freedom fighters while, saying, “Thank you for your service.”  It didn’t take long for us to get into the groove.

My dad was one of the first ones to emerge and one of the few that walked the distance. He stopped along the parade route to give mom a kiss and then continued responding to the flag-waving crowds.   He worked it like he was going down the aisles on Sunday mornings greeting people.  He didn’t pass up a kid and even stooped to talk to many of them.  Each veteran had a U.S. Sailor to push his wheel chair or carry his accumulated paraphernalia from the day.  Dad’s navy escort was attentive to his every move and ready to catch this elderly man if he started to fall.  I caught her grin as Dad displayed more energy than she might have anticipated from him.

Mom stayed in her place until the end of the stream of veterans, thanking each one of them for their service and acknowledging their accompanying sailor for his/hers.  That is her habit, even off the parade route.  If a gentleman is wearing a veteran’s insignia on his ball cap, my mom will approach him and ask where he served and thank him for protecting his country.  She didn’t date my dad until after the war,  but she had many friends and brothers of friends that she sent “letters from home” for those so important mail calls. But tonight she was a girl on the parade route that a sailor picked to kiss.

In the next few days my dad will be opening up the letters sent to him for the Honor Flight Mail Call from family and friends expressing their gratitude and honoring his role as radioman on the USS Cascade. 

My emotions and tears flowed freely from behind the guide ropes.  Very soon I followed my mom’s example and grew intent to shake every Honor Flight Veteran’s hand.  They wore name tags so I called them by their name, “Thank you Mr. Meyers, for your service.”  “Ed, welcome home.”  I regret that not-soon-enough did I start acknowledging and thanking the young sailor pushing the wheel chair. Now I was hoping they had found another plane full of these veteran Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen. Bring on more.  This is great fun! This is joyful and exhilarating.  

If you know any WWII veterans, strongly consider signing them up for the Honor Flight.  The website for the Chicago area is www.honorflightchicago.org .  (phone: 773 227 8387)  Don’t let age or immobility of the veteran dissuade you.  You can also visit the website to view the inspiring pictures and video. Check out the WWII Memorial website to see if your loved one is registered there.  If not, you can enter their information.  www.wwiimemorial.com

At some point in the handshaking, I was no longer reminiscing about 70 years ago, but projecting into the future and I realized what I want to be when I eventually step into the other side of eternity.  I want to be a welcomer in Heaven!  Wouldn’t that just be the best assignment ever!  “Welcome, home!”  “We’ve been waiting for you!”  “Thank you for fighting the good fight!”  “We’re glad you’re here.” “We’ve been praying for your safe arrival.”

This futuristic thought actually felt so very good in the wake of some pretty heavy earthly losses recently in our extended church family and friends.  For a moment the “Welcoming home festivities for the June 4^th Honor Flight Veterans” (and believe me it was a full evening of festivities) put me on the other side of grief and gave me the tiniest peek at heaven.  If I get there before you, I’ll call you by name as I cheer you in.

After the parade Dad told us he shook more hands during the day than he had in his entire life and he was asked by some 6^th graders from Colorado in D.C. to have his picture taken with them.

“Words can’t describe…” he said as he tried to tell us something of the so-much-to-tell experience.

And words don’t adequately express my experience on the sidelines either.  Let’s just say that I have an iota of an inkling of what Heaven’s welcoming festivities could be.  What a Day that Will Be!

Postscript:  Now that I have given you a thousand words, here is a picture that says it all.  Dad at his best!
https://www.dropbox.com/s/f93k9qh26id8321/2014-06-04%2022.06.28.mov?dl=0

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