WWII MEMORIAL

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. 

Memorial Day 2009

FiFth Anniversary of the WWII Memorial

By George Kerestes

At today’s program, Friends of the National World War II Memorial (http://www.wwiimemorialfriends.org/) joined with the National Park Service in a special program recognizing the 5th anniversary of the dedication of the Memorial. The program included music by the United States Marine Band, and a bugler and color guard from the Military District of Washington.  The speakers included former Senator Robert Dole, World War II veteran and Co-Chairman of the  Capital Campaign for the World War II Memorial who has greeted thousands of World War II veterans who have visited the Memorial (through the tireless efforts of the Honor Flight Network and its many Guardians and volunteers) , Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, sponsor of the legislation which created the National World War II Memorial, Ambassador F. Haydn Williams, former Chairman of the World War II Memorial Committee of the American Battle Monument Commission, Friedrich St. Florian, the designer of the Memorial, and Edward Small, President of the construction firm which built the Memorial.  The invocation was given by Lt. Col. William El Calbert, U.S. Army (ret) World War II Veteran. 

It was my honor to serve as one of the many volunteers on that wonderful weekend 5 years ago.  That honor continues today as I have the opportunity to meet thousands of World War II Veterans and their families again and again at the Memorial throughout the year.

Although there were few than the 150,000 who attended the 2004 dedication, the History and Legacy of the World War II Generation continues to be told by ceremonies just like this.

Scouts Honor Vets

THE PICTURES FROM MAY 16TH CAN BE FOUND AT http://srbphoto.zenfolio.com/p250843225

This boy scout troop gave me a Norman Rockwell moment as they saluted the arriving veterans.  What a great idea!!!...