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SAVANNAH, Ga. - On May 16, 2014, I had the honor of being a
guardian for two World War II veterans, and one Korean War veteran
on their trip to Washington, D.C., with Honor Flight Savannah. This
organization raises money to bring veterans from World War II, the
Korean War, and other conflicts, who have serious medical conditions
to Washington D.C., so they can see the monuments that our country
has raised in their honor.
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Veterans remember Navy Store Keeper 3rd Class Dan Thompson at
the World War II Memorial, in Washington, May 17, 2014, who passed
away before he could go on the Honor Flight. (Photo by Chief Warrant
Officer 2 Robert Streeper, 4th IBCT, 3rd ID)
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I wanted to do this event because I enjoy helping out
veterans and really enjoy their stories. When I found out
about Honor Flight I was hoping to get picked to be a
guardian so I could share this experience with them and I
was lucky to be one of the few that were selected.
As
guardians, we met the veterans we'd be escorting on the trip
that morning at the 165th Airlift Wing in Savannah. There
were coffee and other assorted breakfast items for everyone
to take in before the trip.
Maj. Gen. John
Murray, Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Gilpin and “Rocky,”
the 3rd ID mascot, were there to greet the veterans and say
a few words. Before the buses were loaded there was a short
ceremony where a letter was read from the wife of a veteran,
Navy Store Keeper 3rd Class Dan Thompson, who was scheduled
to go on the trip but passed away in January. This served as
reminder that many of our World War II veterans are passing
away without the chance to see the memorials erected in
their honor.
The veterans were shocked as they headed
out to the bus and they were greeted by a veteran's
motorcycle club that had American flags lined on both sides
of the sidewalk leading up to the bus. Also, Soldiers from
the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade and Airmen from the 165th
Airlift Wing saluted the veterans as Murray and Gilpin gave
them one last handshake at the bus doors before we departed.
The motorcycle club then escorted the bus until it reached
I-95.
Once on the road the war stories started to
come out as veterans began talking to each other and the
guardians. One Air Force veteran served in World War II,
Korea, and Vietnam. One of my veterans told me how he served
under Gen. Patton. I would sit there like a little kid in a
candy store listening and trying to take it all in. These
veterans are our living military legacy.
Dinner was
scheduled to be served at 7:30 p.m. after our arrival, but
we arrived around 10 p.m. because of a tire problem. Since
we were going to be late, the restaurant manager asked the
staff if anyone could stay and help serve the veterans, and
the whole staff who was supposed to be off waited for us to
arrive. The servers all had smiles and greeted the veterans
thanking them for their service. That night I could not have
been more proud that my fellow Americans would also
sacrifice their time for the veterans.
When we left the
hotel the next morning we were given a bus tour of
Washington D.C. The veterans were taking in the city because
they were seeing it for the first time.
Our first
stop was the World War II Memorial. Waiting for us to arrive
was an admiral, an Air Force major general, and an Army
major general, along with military members from each branch.
All the veterans were gathered to honor them in a ceremony,
to include the memory of Navy Store Keeper 3rd Class Dan
Thompson. The military color guard marched out in front and
a bugler played taps. The Honor Flight veterans and the
active duty there to see them all saluted when taps were
being played and tears ran down the faces of some of the
veterans. This was very emotional seeing these veterans
remember their fallen comrades. After the ceremony was over,
people started to form a line to shake their hands while
others would just walk up to the veterans and say thank you.
Next we went to the Iwo Jima Memorial and to the Air
Force Memorial and had a box lunch after. While eating lunch
the veterans started telling stories of the rations they had
while at war. Their stories made me really appreciate our
chow halls while I was deployed.
Following lunch the
tour headed to Arlington National Cemetery to watch the
Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns. After the
change was complete, a member of the Honor Guard thanked the
veterans and talked about the history of the Honor Guard and
the cemetery. Then Lt. Gen. James Huggins from the Pentagon
greeted the veterans and thanked them for their service.
Huggins then met the veterans at John C. McKinney Memorial
Stables where members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment
explained the history of the stables and gave a tour.
Once Huggins said his goodbyes to the veterans it was on
to Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial,
and the Women in Military Service for America Memorial.
While at the Korean War Veterans Memorial, all the veterans
from that war stood together for a picture. The veterans
then walked to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. While we
were there a Marine veteran found a name of a friend he
served with. This was my third time seeing the wall but
being there seeing this Marine find his friend's name and
stand there pointing at it sent chills down my spine.
Our last stop in Washington, D.C., was to the U.S. Navy
Memorial. We had dinner next and after everyone received
their food, all the veterans were talking about the day of
visiting the memorials. I was listening to a group talk
about how surprised they were that generals were waiting to
see them. There was a lot of talk about how much they
appreciated having memorials in honor of them, their fellow
patriots, and for the fallen. After dinner was finished it
was time to head back on the bus for the drive back to
Savannah.
This trip was amazing, not only for the
veterans, but for me getting the chance to be a guardian to
escort these veterans. I could listen to the stories of
their experiences during the wars of their time all day
long. Visit
Honor Flight Savannah' website or more information about
this noble effort.
By U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Robert Streeper
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2014
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