WWII MEMORIAL: Jewel of the Mall

The WWII Memorial: Honoring Our Heroes

A site dedicated to the WWII Memorial and the veterans who preserved our way of life during WWII. I’m Stephen R. Brown and the author of “WWII Memorial: Jewel of the Mall” . The book is available on the Mall and Amazon.  I post new images of Honor Flight Veterans at the Memorial on Wednesday and Saturday evenings.  These images CAN BE DOWNLOADED FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. 

Over forty thousand WWII Veterans have been brought to the WWII Memorial for free by Honor Flight and affiliated groups in the past couple of years. It stands in my mind as fascinating and as moving a phenomena as any I have seen. 

Canton Akron and Elizabeth Dole

Just as I had herded all the Canton Akron cats into my frame, along came Mrs. Dole tothrow some light on the image. She has taken over for Senator Dole and her presence is as large as his. She is ever gracious and has a empathy with people that is stunning to experience.  We made some pictures of her today for a museum exhibit on her accomplishments which are significant!  She’s been a good friend to Honor Flight and is currently spending a lot of time with America’s Wounded Warriors.

I should mention here that I am moving the WWII Memorial blog from Typepad over to my WordPress site to see if I can work out some “continuity.”  I may keep both hosts for a bit so the blogs don’t get lost too quickly.  Have a look at some of the events that have occurred over the past seven years!

 

Honor Flights 5/22/2012

Chicago, Arizona, Columbia and Myrtle Beach, SC and North West Ohio Honor Flights were in town today as was Jim McLaughlin, President of Honor Flight and Susan Barr traveling with Arizona.   The predicted stormy weather held off all day and other than a bit of humidity, my trip to the Memorial was absolute karma– A cure for my blues where you will find George Kerestes, Al Doehner and a cadre of people interested in “giving.”  Pretty phenomenal experience in every way.

As usual, I took a few snaps which are available for free download on the photo storage site where there are now over 25000 images stored from the last five or six years of photography.  All of the Honor Flight folders are dated if you are looking for information and it is “keyword searchable” which I have found invaluable with my ever shrinking personal “database.”

As we arrived, some first graders from Glebe School were lined up to greet the North West Ohio Honor Flights and so the day began with one incredibly nice thing after another happening.  All the flights had wreaths, NW Ohio had a tent which was cool and shady and someone gave Jim McLaughlin a check for a $1000.00.  There was another busload of employees from a tech company who were volunteering and had “just heard about the flights and decided to show up”.  Mary Pettinato as usual did up the town with a great ceremony which John Bonk and I both photographed.  So enjoy the photographs and thanks to all of you volunteers and veterans for a great day!

 

Honor Flight Summit: Feb 2012

 

 120 Honor Flight leaders from probably thirty states gathered at the BWI Hilton this weekend to discuss the flight procedures, health issues, safety, public awareness and fund raising and prepare begin another season of bringing WWII Veterans to DC.  It was great meeting people who are interested in service. It does make you feel better about everything and in this jaundiced DC photogrpher's mind, Honor Flight will become synonymous with the best of America in the coming decades.  I gave a short talk on photo libraries, the best places on the Memorial to take photos and how to do a pan if your lens isn't wide enough to get the whole group in the picture.

I signed eight cases of books and hung out in the lobby chatting with people I normally see for a few minutes at the Memorial.  They are distinguished by their good humor, kindness and dedication.  Great weekend!

 

Honor Flight numbers are IMPRESSIVE ... Congratulations to all!!!

I received these numbers from Jim McLaughlin and I think that all the Honor Flight volunteers deserve great praise, ovations and a terrific Holiday Season.  Through rain, delays, departures and hot and cold days, you have all participated in an extraordianary piece of American History!  Congrats!

Please find the attached information to reflect totals for the 2011 Flying Season:

 -Veterans Flown in 2011: 18,055
-Guardians Flown in 2011: 13,893
-Combined Total in 2011: 31,948

And Since the inception of Honor Flight in May, 2005:
-Veterans Flown since inception: 81,348
-Guardians Flown since inception: 39,184
-Combined Total since inception: 120,532

Chicago, Arizona, New Mexico stay dry!

We had some bad weather forecast today in DC and while it was gray, the rains held off while Arizona, New Mexico and Chicago Honor Flights were at the Memorial.  Jim McLoughlin and Susan Barr are in town for a few days supervising the variety of flights that are arriving. Honor Flight is a phenomena...and phenomenally successful.  It has required the committment of thousands and thousands of people and will be regarded positively for all time. The photos are available for personal use by Veterans and their families.

 

750 Veterans visit Memorial

Senators Robert and Elizabeth Dole and General Colin Powell greet 750 WWII Veterans who visited the WWII Memorial this last Saturday. I took a few pictures but more importantly, I directed bus traffic!  The pictures are available for free download to veterans and their families.

"Heroes Welcome" begins transporting veterans

Lona Ichikawa has taken on a new role with Heroes' Welcome the organization that traditionally welcomes WWII Veterans to the BWI, Reagan and Dulles Airports. They are transporting their first bus trip from Northern Virginia.  The buses depart from American Legion Post 177 in Fairfax on October 2, 2011.  If you would like to be a guardian, you can get in touch with Lona through the Heroes' Welcome website.  They were recently given some press by the Vienna Connection and a lot of support from local volunteers.

September 14th: 200th Honor Flight Charter for Southwest Airlines

Jeff and Tam Miller were on hand to greet the 200th charter flight by Southwest Airlines today.  Senators Dole (Robert and Elizabeth) and Senator Richard Burr were on hand to greet the troops from North Carolina, Arizona and Cleveland.  George Kerestes and Al Doehring showed up as well as Susan Barr.  It was quite a beautiful day on the Mall made more interesting by the Arlington Motorcycle Squad which escorted the North Carolina veterans. The images are available at the Stephen R. Brown studio website.

Honor Flight September 10, 2011

After a scorching summer and a week of torrential rain, it was a pleasure to slip by the WWII Memorial this morning.  

As I strolled towards the Pacific entrance, I ran into Jim McLoughlin, President of Honor Flight.  He's on a trip every three weeks in addition to supervising Honor Flight's all over the country. Thankfully, he chose to retire from architecture and work with Honor Flight.  He's a wonderful and even tempered leader.  I'm looking forward to the Fall season.  Today's pictures are on Stephen R. Brown Photo website. As usual, they are available for personal use only.

 

VJ Day, Honolulu Hawaii, August 14, 1945

VJ Day, Honolulu Hawaii, August 14, 1945 from Richard Sullivan on Vimeo.

This video was recently found and is represented to be VJ Day in Honolulu. Imagine the celebration...no...SEE the celebration