WWII MEMORIAL

Honor Flight Southwest

 
Honor Air may have begun a new chapter with Southwest Airways sponsorship arranged by Judy Lemmons who is the glue that holds Honor Flight together.  She and Susan Barr brought twenty-one veterans from California and their guardians to visit the Memorial and ...it was obvious it wasn't California.  It was a "NorEaster" with gusty winds and lots of rain and nevertheless everyone stood for pictures, walked around the Mall and generally got a sense of the WWII Memorial which looks good in any light

I'd like to personally congratulate SouthWest Airlines!!!

Band of Brothers Fundraiser

 

Last Tent Day for Honor Flight Season

by Lona Ichikawa

  

Tomorrow may be our last tent day for the Honor Flight season. We have two tents bundles rented and 3 hubs scheduled to use the tents as shown on Diane's HF schedule and I have volunteers to staff it.   I am not sure about the 7th of November. I don't know what the funding looks like. I did put a call out to three services (Army, Air Force and Navy) and they said they would try to send me people to assist us unload the buses so it sounds like we will have servicewomen and men to support us on the 7th of November down at the WWII Memorial.   I  have enjoyed working with all the Hub Reps, Hub Directors and group captains.  You all inspire me and I really respect how hard you ALL have worked to bring the WWII Veterans safely into DC to see their Memorial. I appreciate how hard Jim, Judy, Carol, Diane and Tom work to provide the behind the scenes support. An earlier email a couple months ago was sent out by me and was totally misinterpreted. I have always felt that you ALL work hard - have put in your sweat, blood and tears and you all are tall in my eyes for what you are doing.   I very much appreciate how Stephen Brown has given cases of his books to all three of us coordinators to give out to all the volunteers. Ace, you are awesome and to see how you support us everywhere with water and lunchboxes - tires me out.  Paul Henzy - thank you for giving us discounts and free July usage of the tent and sidewalls when you realized how tight our budget is.

DC PHOTO BOOK

My apologies to those I haven't seen down at the Memorial of late but I've been feverishly getting the final photographs together for a new book...DCPHOTOBOOK an insiders look at DC.  We just locked down the layout yesterday so I am hoping to catch the last few flights in November.  Hope all of you are well.

A Photo Recommendation and Northwest Ohio and Central Illinois

Central Illinois and Northwest Ohio came in today and were greeted by Senator and Mrs. Dole.  As you will notice, I made the photographs of the Central Illinois group on the 17th Street (Washington Monument) side of the Memorial. Photographing groups on the 17th Street entrance is WONDERFUL and I would like to take this opportunity to recommend the 17th Street  location to all of you interested in getting good photographs of your groups.  There are a number of advantages to this location.  One-- you can spread your veterans out and two-- your guardians can go back towards 17th Street and make a photograph of the whole group without using a special wide-angle lens equipped camera and three--you can make a second photograph with all the guardians in the photo with very little effort.

The South entrance to the Memorial where Senator Dole normally stands and greets veterans worked for Northwest Ohio today as they only had about thirty five veterans and guardians and the Illinois Flight was already inside the Memorial. Larger groups however simply don't get good photographs, block the entrance and guardians end up getting squashed while trying to get a photograph.  I am not affiliated with Honor Flight but as a professional photographer who "cleans both his elbows and his lenses" when he gets ready to shoot, it's nice to use the lenses and not the elbows.  I realize that getting our heroes to cooperate is like "herding cats" but I wanted to make this recommendation as this Saturday there will be some 800 veterans on that slippery concrete.

Have a look at today's photos which are available for downloading at the Jewel of the Mall site.  I think you will agree that the 17th Street location is superior.  Bring your ponchos and sweaters this Saturday as the weatherman is calling for cold weather and a forty percent chance of rain which Rob Callahan reminded me today is a "sixty percent" chance of clearing!  Have a safe journey.  We'll see you on the Mall. 

 
 

Central Missouri, Siouxland and Central Iowa

 
 There were buses unloading on 178th Street today as Central Iowa alone brought in 350 veterans.  The weather was perfect and with the addition of Central Missouri and Siouxland Honor Flights, the Memorial was jam packed with veterans in a variety of blues and yellows.  All told, between veterans and guardians there were some 600  veterans and guardians..an amazing crowd for a Tuesday. The pictures can be found at the photo site.

Minnesota's Mille Lac County Times

 
 

Six-Burgh--That is Pittsburgh Arrives

 
Photos and text by George Kerestes, National Park Service and Pittsburgh Native

On another beautiful fall day in Washington 100 World War II Veterans, plus their volunteers, visit their Memorial.  Although not part of the Honor Flight Network, the Pittsburgh numbers are very impressive.  The Pittsburgh group originated with Jim Hilts, of Coraopolis, a Vietnam War veteran who retired from the Army in 1989. Beginning in November 2006, Jim’s group of volunteers has been responsible for more than 1,000 Pittsburgh WWII coming to Washington.

Today’s group had another visit by Senator Dole—he is like the Energizer Bunny!  I modified my National Park Service Volunteer uniform with my own “Terrible Towel” at my side.  The Terrible Towel, arguably the best-know fan symbol of any major pro sports team, seems to follow Pittsburgh fans everywhere.  Soon after the veterans saw my Terrible Towel many of them wanted to take a picture with it and the Memorial in the background.  In addition, there are several photos with Senator Dole and the Terrible Towel. 

The Pittsburgh group will be back on Veterans Day and I and my wife Sara and the Terrible Towel will be there.  Also expected back is Al Quaye from Arlington who organizes the delivery of 10 to 15 wheelchairs for use on the trip. Active-duty Marines regularly volunteer to push the veterans who use wheelchairs.  

Northern Valley Honor Flight

North Dakota thundered into the Memorial today lead by Tim Koski and supported by a group of guardians and supporters from past flights. North Dakota has been so successful in Fargo (due in large part to Lance Akers and Jennine Albrecht’s fund raising efforts) that they have been able to cover the rest of the state. Senators Dorgan and Dole were on hand to greet the veterans and to help get the largest group shot in Honor Flight history. Both had a few inspiring and thankful words for the veterans and guardians. This isn't a political blog but if I had a Senator and they showed up for my community, HE OR SHE WOULD GET MY VOTE...!!! Senator Dorgan was there last year and he spoke last night at the Northern Valley Banquet so in the Grand American tradition, "vote early and vote often!"  While everyone was gathered, Tim Koski lead a small ceremony and taps were played. 

The group was enormous and bagpiper, Jeff Burton played Pied Piper to get all the veterans from the South Entrance over to the 17th Street entrance for a picture. Jeff and I were discussing the parking (or lack of) and he told me that he parks over by the Dept of Agriculture so he has time to warm up on his walk over to the Memorial. Must be quite a sight as he walks over playing the pipes. Karen Engalter, Senator Dorgan’s aide was on hand as well. We managed to get all the vets lined up for a photo with both Senators and then all the guardians!  Practice…practice….  The weather was beautiful and there was a banquet tonight, which they held last year but no one can remember…hmmm...what happened?  I am always amazed by the great love Americans have for each other and the efforts everyone puts into honoring our veterans.  They are a great group and I leave every day inspired  The Photos are available at the WWII Memorial Photo Site.

Honor Flights: September 19, 2009

Six flights (Fayette, Georgia; Rotary District 7680 (North Carolina); Honor Flight Dayton, Southeast Florida, Leatherstocking Honor Flight (New York)  and Roughriders from North Dakota) came in today with a total of 380 veterans and some 150 guardians.  Senators Robert and Elizabeth Dole were there to greet the veterans.  The day was absolutely beautiful and Washington was at its very finest.  The photos are available at the WWII Memorial Photo site and are downloadable for personal use.