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 October 2009... Honor Flight:
a donated flight to Washington DC for World War II veterans
to see their memorial. As the Iowa October Honor Flight took
place, I heard it announced on the radio news and prayed they
would be blessed with a very special day. This is
the web address http://www.centraliowahonorflight.org/November 2009...My father-in-law Carl Anderson received a letter confirming that he is eligible for the Iowa Honor Flight in November! So, Glen (my husband, and Carl's son) called about scheduling the flight for non-vets to accompany the vets. Since Carl can't hear, Glen would need to go with him, even though they won't be on the same plane. Several from Madison County are also scheduled to go, so that will help Carl. The flight is scheduled for November 4 and will be leaving very early in the morning, and back by midnight the same day. It will be a very long day for them, but all the ones who have gone on the other 3 flights so far have truly enjoyed the event. Glen decided he wants me to go on the Honor Flight with them! So, Washington DC, here we come! I'm taking the 5th off from work because there is no way I could function after a whirlwind trip like that! Monday night I was not feeling well at all - a headache seemed to have turned into flu-like feelings and I was worried I might be sick and miss the Honor Flight! But things worked out well. Even though I was sickish Tuesday morning and did not go to work, the symptoms eased throughout the day, praise the Lord! Well, I didn't miss the flight, and didn't miss the awesome event on November 4th! We arrived at the Airport Holiday Inn to get Carl checked in. These photos were at the registration, when they put the yellow shirts on them! He got a shirt, heavy jacket, cap, gloves, stocking hat, fanny pack, a beautiful plaque, so many nice gifts.    I watched them leave in the buses (I think there were 13 buses) for the pre-flight banquet. The streets were lined with people, waving flags and cheering. It was so exciting to see. Carl could only take one guest, so I was on my own for supper. After supper with a nice lady from the Omaha area, I lounged around the motel until they got back. It was early to bed since we had to "rise and shine" at 2 a.m.!!! Here we are arriving over Washington DC:  It was all so exciting and I took a tablet and pens and camera to document everything! Carl was very excited! And I'm so blessed to be able to take part in this event! In the link below, Carl and Glen are in photo #5. That photo was shown on the news. Of course we didn't see it as we were in flight at that time. We got home around 12:30 a.m., but we're so glad we went. Pictures: Last Central Iowa Honor Flight - Photos - KCCI Des Moines: http://www.kcci.com/slideshow/21523822/detail.html?taf=des Below is an article I wrote and sent to our local newspaper along with some photos. They took every photo I snapped! The gal at the office said, "I'll just take them all and decide which ones to use. They are all so good!" What an honor to have participated in this event! Honor Flight By Linda K. Anderson Laughter, a few tears, handshakes and hugs – so many memories surfaced as they walked around the World War II Memorial in Washington DC, taking part in the 4th Central Iowa Honor Flight November 4, 2009. What a privilege it was to take part in this event, accompanying the 350 men and women veterans to view their national monument. Although the day was partly to mostly cloudy and the air was chilly, the warm handshakes, the salutes and applause they received were genuine and long overdue. What a sight to see so many of our heroes all in one spot – heroes who bravely fought and served, sacrificing so much during their time in the military, winning and preserving our freedoms, our great privilege to be called Americans! The day spent among our veterans was one of learning the stories each had to tell. Each yellow shirt and jacket carried within them a separate individual who truly is one of our National Treasures. And each story is a vital part of the whole – each one a brick or stone of memories used to create those national monuments, etched with quotes and depictions of events to memorialize so great a generation. What Hy-Vee and Casey’s General Stores have done to honor these great people is pure patriotism and they deserve, not only our thanks, but our praise for their bold statement of honor and respect. They stepped up to the plate and did what should have been done long ago. And they did what most of us could not have done on our own.  Adding to the American spirit of such a great day was a visit by Governor Chet Culver. He spent several hours at the monument, shaking hands and hearing the stories.  Congressman Leonard Boswell walked among the veterans as well, thanking each one he met for their service.  U. S. Secretary of Agriculture and former Governor Tom Vilsac (no photo) made an appearance, and his lovely wife Christie (with Carl left) chatted with many, warmly greeting our World War II veterans. Reporters listened as veterans told about harrowing situations. Many shared a flood of memories of how our soldiers and sailors and marines fought battles and watched friends die, and served in many ways, from the front lines to the hospitals. Each story is worth telling, each chapter they wrote with their service, their blood, their sacrifice, tears and time would create a history book no library could hold. Their service, not just in the military, but as citizens of this great country, has been the foundation of character and commitment, determination and duty, stepping into a daily grind of hard work that built and maintained these United States of America. Those of us honored to know and love a veteran, has the responsibility of thanking them – not just on Veterans Day, not just with an Honor Flight, but by our daily respect of what they did for our nation and for who they are today. On the tour of the national monuments, we spent the day with "our" veteran, Carl A. Anderson of Winterset. Carl was most impressed by the wall of gold stars, the Memorial’s Freedom Wall. It contains 4,000 gold  stars representing the
more than 400,000 Americans who lost their lives in World War II. The
brochure we received at the monument said, “Here we mark the price of
freedom.” When a son or daughter entered the military, the family was
given a blue star to hang in their window. That blue star was replaced
with a gold star when that family received the impersonal telegram
stating bluntly that a loved one had died in the war. As Carl stood beside his son Glen Anderson, looking at all those gold stars this chilly November day, he gazed silently at that wall and could only say in a choked voice, ‘Well, I’ll be.”  At the Vietnam Wall, I was so moved when Carl silently reached out to touch the name of a fallen soldier. He didn't know the person, but he just had to touch that wall.  Glen, Carl, Linda in front of the World War II Memorial building.  After leaving the World War II Memorial, we went to visit the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial. We snapped photos of the Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Memorial (Carl and Glen in front). We created special memories for our veterans to treasure for months and years to come. The crew of volunteers, from the young ROTC cadets to the service men and women, helped make the day possible by assisting in many ways, from pushing wheelchairs, helping those with walkers, lending a hand getting people on and off buses and the plane, and who handed out lunches, snacks and water. This could not have happened without them. And this effort renews and lifts up the American spirit of selfless service. We saw young cadets remove their own jackets to warm a chilled veteran. They ran for coffee and hot cocoa for those huddled at tables and benches by the memorials. The volunteers made sure each veteran had what they needed.  One particular moment of compassion was during the Changing of the Guard at Arlington National Cemetery at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We spotted a lady holding her gloved hands over the ears of one of our veterans. We assumed it was her Dad, but when we talked to her later, we learned she lives in D.C. and volunteers at these events.  The memorials, those rich monuments that celebrate and commemorate such life-changing events, illustrate the same bold spirit and patriotism we witnessed on that cold Wednesday of the Honor Flight. The Hy-Vee personnel, the staff at the Airport Holiday Inn, the flight crews and attendants, the bus drivers, the tour guides, all who helped in any way, were exhibiting the spirit that makes America great!  Oh, my, there were a LOT of tears shed, a lot of laughter, a lot of memories. I can't say it enough - I'm so glad Glen and I were able to go with Carl!!! All the 48 states and territories that USA had during WW II had columns in the memorial. It was really special seeing the other honor flights that were there as well.  Carl and Glen looking out at the crowd over the memorial.  A pretty view of the Washington Memorial, which we did not get to tour.  A view looking up into the archway of the 4 huge eagles holding the iron wreath. This is the archway leading INTO the memorial pond and other areas. (To top of page)  I invite you to sign the Guest Book provided courtesy of Ray from ChristiansUnite   |