Approximately 50 World War II Veterans, men and women, who have flown to Washington DC on the Honor Flight Program were proudly wearing their black and gold t-shirts reading World War II Honor Flight – Tennessee Valley. The stories they told of their experience at the World War II Monument in Washington DC gave me and everyone there such an emotional & proud feeling.

One gentleman said, “We are not ashamed of what we did to preserve what we have today,” another spoke up, “We didn’t know what the outcome of the war was to be, it was no sure thing, we didn’t know we would win.” Mr. Sherwin Calendar a Pearl Harbor survivor from Madison said, “The whole country was behind us – women & children were supporting our effort to win the war.”

Mrs. Nell Lutz who said (of the late), “Col. Sam Gibbons told me it (the Honor Flight) would be the greatest day of my life & he was right – and the welcome home was tremendous.”

WWII Veteran Lerman Gey stood up and said about the most memorable sight of his trip, “the war came at a price, I was amazed to see so many white crosses, 600 acres of white crosses.”

Bernard Thomas was on Honor Flight #4. His 2 sons and daughter met him there, they spent the whole day together, something he hadn’t been able to do since 2 of his children lived out of state. His son who lived in Huntsville was delayed leaving that evening due to bad weather, when he arrived the next morning to see his Dad, he found he had passed away but not before he had enjoyed seeing 2000-3000 of his old friends.

Another 88 year old Veteran was scheduled to attend his orientation for one of the first Honor Flights but had to canceled because he had to pick up his 8 and 12 year old children at school. He contacted the program recently to inform he could now go if it wasn’t too late, his kids are now 12 & 16 and are able to stay by themselves. A side note to this story: His ex-wife lives next door to him, but he has full custody of the children, he also has a 60 year old son!

There were 125 veterans on the Honor Flight and headed to the cemetery August 29th 2009, the day Senator Kennedy was to be buried. The Secret Service had cleared the cemetery to have the funeral service, Mr. Fitzgerald couldn’t disappoint the veterans who had waited so many years to see their monument so he makes a phone call. He was told to contact the Special Agent in Charge, the Special Agent responded “you are all going up the hill to the Arlington Cemetery”. They were the only group allowed in.

In today's proud group of Veterans was one of our Museum members who has been recovering from a recent illness, Mr. Buford Franklin. Buford was in the service with his best friend, just before his friend died he asked Buford to take care of his wife & daughter. When Buford came home from the war, with 5 purple hearts, he honored his friends request, he married his friends widow, raised their daughter and were married for 55 years until she passed in August, 2007.

“This group of Veterans has always been called the 'Greatest Generation' it is so easy to see why,” quoted Honor Flight President Joe Fitzgerald. He went on the say, “Everyone who has been on the Honor Flight comes back changed: they are 5 years younger, you are standing taller & your chest is puffed out a little further.”  Mr. Fitzgerald spoke about the World War II veterans finally having a chance to see their memorial 60 years after the war had ended. As he continued, "Each Honor Flight is special because you are special”. He mentioned his talks with his Dad before he passed away in 1991, they discussed if there would ever be a memorial built to honor the WWII veterans. With the memorial finally being completed and opened to the public in 2004, Fitzgerald has been passionate to take as many veterans as possible to visit their memorial.

Joe Fitzgerald is one of 20 finalists for a Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation award. He has been nominated for a Citizen Service Above Self honor, which recognizes "those ordinary Americans who become extraordinary through their indomitable courage and selflessness."

Fitzgerald said, "I'm merely a representative in a community of a lot of folks who made this happen," Fitzgerald said. "I'm honored to be recognized this way. I believe it reflects on everyone who has been a part of this program."

Fitzgerald has raised over $1 million since The Tennessee Valley Honor Flight Program began in late 2006. An all-volunteer board organizes and oversees the trips with guardians assigned to each veteran to keep them safe and tended to. Also they carry 3 physicians and 10 medics on each flight for the safety and care of each veteran.

The next flight is May 29^th with the last flight scheduled for September 11, 2010 (yes that is on 9/11) I wish I could go as a guardian, this last flight will make a total of 12 trips for this organization to have funded. www.honorflight.net  

When the next flight leaves, try to go to the airport to support these veterans as they leave or be there to welcome them back home, you won't be disappointed...

Teresa A. Todd
- May 21, 2010

FYI - www.wwiimemorial.com/

The World War II Memorial honors the 16 million who served in the armed forces of the U.S., the more than 400,000 who died, and all who supported the war effort from home. Symbolic of the defining event of the 20th Century, the memorial is a monument to the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of the American people. The Second World War is the only 20th Century event commemorated on the National Mall’s central axis.

Visiting the Memorial

The memorial opened to the public on April 29, 2004 and was dedicated one month later on May 29. It is located on 17th Street, between Constitution and Independence Avenues, and is flanked by the Washington Monument to the east and the Lincoln Memorial to the west. The memorial is operated by the National Park Service and is open to visitors 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about visiting the memorial, accessibility, parking, directions, special events and other details, please visit the National Park Service Web site at www.nps.gov/nwwm or call the Park Service at (202) 619-7222.