WWII MEMORIAL: Jewel of the Mall

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.

 

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

WWII Memorial Posters

Beth Zimmerman, her mother and aunt sent me these posters which I think are very interesting.  You can access them on the photo site.  The quality of the illustrations is quite amazing and it looks to me like Norman Rockwell did a few of the illustrations.  Pretty cool. Betty Hart who originally sent them said in her note:

"You can call it wartime propaganda, but it actually portrayed the way people felt - esp. those of us who had family in the services (like Vic, John, Ernest, Jack M. - and cousins, as well as most of the other boys we knew).  These posters broughts tears to my eyes as it took me back to those days   It was a hard, hard experience, filled with fear, uncertainity, anxiety about what news each day would bring.  The rationing and doing without were minor inconveniences  when we didn't know from day to day if we were going to survive as a country."  The posters are available for larger viewing at the Photo Site.

Thanks Beth

Honor Flight Bluegrass

Kentucky's Bluegrass group lead by Brian Duffy arrived in a light drizzle and after a short attempt to organize the troops for a group photo, we went witht some great spontaneous photographs of the veterans and Senator and Mrs. Dole.  I am always inspired by the Honor Flight volunteers, the veterans, the volunteers, the Doles, Marion Watkins, Mike Marshall and Gia (and Leader the pooch),  the ground crew, rangers and personnel who are part of these Honor Flights. Despite economic hard times, busy schedules, etc, everyone is basking in the spirit of volunteerism. They say when you are doing for others, you don't worry about yourself and I think this is what makes these gatherings so special.  Thank you all.  it's very inspiring and it's great that the Fall Season is with us. 

"Gentlemen, start your engines,"

From Judy Lemmons:

With a "Gentlemen, start your engines," our own Chairman, Jim McLaughlin waved the green checkered flag to signal the start of the Hampton VA Honor Flight 250 for the USARacing Pro Cup Series held recently at the Langley Speedway in Hampton VA.

Persistent showers forced the race to be rescheduled but that didn't dampen the spirits of those who were there from the Honor Flight Network to see OUR car.  That's right, OUR car, #28 driven by Billy Bigley, Jr and owned by Bigley Motorsports.  Thanks to Doug Dysktra who was persistent and committed, The Honor Flight Network not only had a car wrapped sporting a beautiful Honor Flight Logo but the race was named the Hampton VA Honor Flight 250 and the press coverage was awesome.  Bob Hogue and the guys at ProCal did an awesome job designing an all american look for OUR car.  

Unfortunately, Billy had worked his way up to 7th at lap 100 and then it let go, blowing the engine...that's Racing.

Many thanks to the USARacing Pro Cup Team and the Hampton Convention & Visitor Bureau for spotlighting the Honor Flight Network to show support and gratitude to our nation's veterans and to the Fox Sports Net for airing the race and giving Honor Flight a dominant presence in their coverage.  

And Jim, you were stylin'   

China Burma India

Aside from the Honor Flight, there was a group of veterans of the China Burma India theatre who I had the opportunity to photograph.  I am hoping their group leader will send me some more information and I will post it. The picture of them is at the website

South Carolina gets some Thunder

Rolling Thunder's Virginia Chapter lead the South Carolina buses into the WWII Memorial. They rolled into the WWII Memorial just as I was walking up.  Bill Dukes had requested a picture of all the vets and I think we got over 150 people into one panoramic picture. We then squeezed in the guardians for the most packed pioture of the year. There are a ton of pictures and they can be downloaded for personal use at the picture site.

 

Senator Dole strives for new greeting goals

There were 604 veterans from four states at the

 Memorial today and Senator Dole seems to be restored to health after a rough Summer. He was greeting veterans from all the flights and they all seemed to converge together in a marathon session.  

One of the veterans from South Dakota, Joel Keck was in the same company in Italy and wounded on the same day in the same attempt to take ground away from the German Army who had been told by Hitler to hold Italy or not come home!  

TODAY'S PHOTOS CAN BE FOUND AT

New WWII Memorial Photos on D-Day Anniversary

 

Kari Beardsley and Leah Puttkammer made yesterday's images and did a spectacular job. The really got into gear and captured Brian Duffy, Earl Morse, Bobbi and Bill Richards and some WWII buffs dressed in combat uniforms greeting our veterans.  Their photography is becoming more sophisticated every week and kari always does her distinctive "fountain shot" which seems new each time she does it.My other news source--my mother in law--said that TV--local and national (CNN and Fox) --covered the Memorial all day.  The weekend seems to have been a public relations coup of sort and hopefully every hub will benefit. Thanks to you all again for your efforts.  I am spending the weekend with my graduating daughter who thanks to the Greatest Generation can speak Spanish and Chinese as well as English!!

And from Leah..."A line of spontaneous bystanders ushered in one of the honor flight groups by clapping as they all went into the memorial. I swear they were clapping for 15 minutes straight.... I know the veterans really appreciated it."  And that's how we roll!

Honoring our Heroes

Alabama Honor Flight is featured in Hoffman Media's new "Celebrate" magazine which goes to press today.  Linda Wright and her staff did a beautiful job on the layout and design of the images and it was a pleasure working with them.  It's also a pleasure to be able to use my images to honor Pam, Amy and the many volunteers who staff Honor Flight!  You are all crazily amazing!!!  The eight page layout can be previewed at the WWII Memorial Photo Site.

it won’t be on the newsstands until July 7. Also, at present the magazine is only sold on newsstands such as Barnes & Noble and grocery stores like Publix and Kroger.