EXTRA ....EXTRA.....EXTRA

HONOR FLIGHT  9/29-10/2/2015

I had a letter in my mail box today and I want to share it with you.   It is from Bob Williams, an old friend, from Nevada.  He is the veteran in the front row, hands crossed, no smile, waiting patiently to go on the Honor Flight.

HONOR FLIGHT

"Our first meeting before the flight on September 29th was at four a.m.  We met our guardians, the men who would be looking after us and pushing those who needed wheel chairs, I was one of  them, and I met my companion, Dave Shaw, a Vietnam vet.  Dave a pilot on the F-4 (phantom) who flew 123 missions, a truly honorable record.    Dave pushed me around for four days, we ate together and slept in the same room, and became good friends.

 

We changed planes in Denver and arrived in Baltimore around four p.m. on September 29th.   Breakfast and dinner were provided buffet style and lunch included a boxed sandwich with chips and apple slices.  We were bussed to the various memorials..  I thought Los Angeles was congested but the Washington D.C. area was just as bad if not worse.  We were on the road at least three hours on September 30th.  However on October 1, we had a motorcycle and police car escort with the warning lights blazing and sirens sounding cutting the travel time by half..

 

On September 30th, we arrived at an aircraft Museum close to Dulles airport.  I had heard of the place and was delighted to finally see it.  It contained every bird from the Wright Brothers flyer to the Discovery shuttle that was sent into outer space and glided back to earth.  The ship was left in the same condition upon landing, and showed the effects of the tremendous heat as it entered the earth's atmosphere, burn marks and loose tiles on the nose and lower fuselage.  The WWII bombers I was familiar with, B-24, B-25, B-26  and B-29 were thee by not my B-17.   I asked why ad was told that thee were eleven of them still flying and as soon as one became grounded the museum would get it.  this was a special day for me and one I will never forget.

 

On October 1, we awoke to rain, not a drizzle but RAIN all day.  Our first stop waws the Arlington Cemetery.  I had brought a small umbrella but not hardly adequate for the deluge. We watched the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier.  It was so precisely done with the clicking of the heels and rifle inspection, but strangely very touching for me.  

 

Our next stop next stop was the U.S. Air Force memorial.   They had a wall commerating the Army Air Corp, the only one at the memorials so I had to see it.   Incidentally myself being a B-24 pilot wee the only AAF vets on the flight so we hd a chance to talk and compare experiences.  The WWII memorial was so well done and impressive.  It reflected the various theaters of war the Services were involved in.   Dave and I spent a lot of time there and I met several ROTC high school students who shook my hand and thanked me for my service.  I must say I added a little ore moisture to an already wet face.  I was soaked to the skin as was almost everyone else and we still had the Korea and Vietnam memorials to see.  The bus stopped at a distance away and I knew that Dave wanted to see the Vietnam memorial, so rather than pushing me, I told him to go ahead and I stayed on the bus with several water soaked vets.

 

The responses we got at the various airports were touching and gratefully received.  Our return to Reno was very special.  We had flags, music, drums and many friends and strangers shaking my hand and thanking me for my service.  A day I will cherish and never forget.

 

Signed by Bob Williams....a World War II veteran.