Honor is a hard term to describe. It doesn’t have a color or weight or shape. If someone were to ask me what honor looked like, I’d probably struggle with what to say.
But something happened on May 23, 2012 at 9:31 a.m. at Gate 38 of Reagan National Airport that might change that. A flash mob of sorts broke out. But not like you’ve seen on YouTube with highly choreographed dance numbers or people singing a song in unison. In fact, virtually all of the participants of this “flash mob” didn’t know they would be participating until moments before it happened.
Let me explain. Shortly before 9:30 over the loud speakers, a US Airways gate attendant announced that an Honor Flight of World War II veterans would be arriving momentarily and encouraged anyone passing by to help greet them. Five or six people looked like they were officially part of the welcoming committee, and the rest of the people in the secure section of the airport were regular old travelers going somewhere. Then I had a terrible thought. What if these veterans came off the plane and just those five or six individuals were there to greet them. I walked a gate over to help see the veterans out.
But – then it happened and frankly, I wasn’t expecting it. All throughout the terminal, people left their gates and gathered around gate 38. A few active military personnel in plain clothes approached the gate attendant and politely asked if they could join in the salute within the jet way as the heroes first stepped off the plane. Every human being in the terminal stood at attention and faced the door.
Someone held up an old newspaper from 1945 that had a banner headline that said, “Nazis Quit!” And when I saw that newspaper, I realized that World War II wasn’t just a chapter in a history book. It was men and women who saw an evil like the world has never seen before and traveled across the world to meet that evil. And they defeated it.
I wonder if in 1945, any of those brave soldiers could ever imagine that 67 years later, we’d still be basking in the freedom that they preserved. And some of those heroes were about to walk through Gate 38.
The first soldier walked through the door. Old, frail and needing help walking. And every person I could see in the entire airport stood and applauded. No – maybe cheered is more like it.
But here’s the thing – the applause didn’t stop. For a full 20 minutes, as veteran by veteran stepped out of the jet way, the US Airways wing of Reagan National Airport thundered in appreciation. Travelers stepped out for the opportunity to shake their hand while others held back tears.
This is the America we picture in our heads. Heroes getting a hero’s welcome and those who enjoy the freedom adequately conveying their gratitude.
Now, I know what honor looks like.
Music in the video is “Thank You Soldier” by Joe Brucato
To view a version of the video with crowd sounds and no music, click here.
Thank You, Soldier! And thank you, travelers at DCA!
When these heroes return on Honor Flights, they get a great hometown reception as well. Check out this one in Central Illinois, for example! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SO-de77PRk
I went on the Freedom Flight April 17. Never have I experienced any thing like this. I was crying most of the time. Iwas glad to serve and was proud of our Nation at this time. I was in a wheel chair and assisted by Larry Anderson of Buffalo, Mo. It was a great trip. Thanks to all who made it possible. H. Burke Smyth
THANK YOU.
Three of my brothers served in WWII in the South Pacific. My oldest brother Andrew Cascio was a mechanic in the US Air Force for 11 years when he resigned. My brother PAUL J. CASCIO was also in the US Air Force, an ariel gunner and radio man. He was missing for 19 months when we learned he was a Japanese prisoner, a total of 28 months in Tokyo camp number 2. During the time Paul was missing my youngest brother Joseph Cascio,US Army Infantry was killed on Morotai Island on 9/16/44. He was 20 years old. I have always been very patriotic and wish I could witness a Freedom Flight. I have never heard of them. God bless every one who has served our country, past and present. GOD BLESS AMERICA!
I WAS ONLY TEN YEARS ON DEC 7TH. 1941. MY BEST FRIEND LIVED JUST UP THE STREET, AND HIS SISTER HAD A BOYFRIEND WHO WAS AN ARMY AIR CORPS PILOT. HE WAS, OF COURSE, A HERO TO US. ONE DAY HE VISITED AND BROUGHT MY BUDDY A MODEL AIRPLANE TO BUILD–I THINK IT WAS A P-38 MODEL. HE LEFT AND WAS KILLED. MY FRIEND’S SISTER NEVER MARRIED. SHE WAS ONE OF THOSE “UNKNOWN” AND UNRECOGNISED CASUALTIES OF THE WAR, AND THERE WERE MANY LIKE HER. MANY LIKE HER HAVE NOW PASSED HAVING SILENTLY LIVED WITH THEIR GRIEF.HEROS AND HEROINS ALL. AN ENTIRE GENERATION IMPACTED BY WAR.
Hello,
My father was a P-38 Lightning who was killed just six weeks before my birth. He is buried in England. My mother remarried to wonderful man who was the best Dad a boy could have. However, there was always the thought of my father who was killed just after his 23rd birthday…how he missed seeing his son grow up. His, my mother’s and my story were featured ina book tiltled “USAAF Fighter Pilots” by Ian McLachlan printed in 1977 by Wiley and Sons in England. Our story is Chapter Six…”My Father’s Son, At Last.” Still available on Amazon. The book is about American fighter pilots who flew out one day and never returned.
A good read which brings these stories to life.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DID FOR ALL OF US WHO ENJOY THIS GREAT FREEDOM THAT WE LIVE IN., THANK YOU FOR THE LOVE OF YOUR COUNTRY. MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU AND YOURS FOR YOUR SACRIFICES IN KEKEPING THIS ONE NATION UNDER GOD!!!
AMEN!!
In World War 11 my husband was three years in England in the 93rd Bomb Group and participated in the Ploesti Mission. His mother and dad had three sons in the war. Thank God for all of those veterans, here and gone, for saving us ’til now.
Thank You JESUS for the men and women for your service to the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! How can this nation repay you? I pray that by continuing to honor and praise the God above for you and for HIM that allows us this FREEDOM. THANK YOU SOLDIERS.
WE CANT REPAY THEM BUT WE CAN HONOR THEM WITH HOW WE LIVE OUR LIVES. GOD BLESS THESE MEN AND WOMEN. IM PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN.
It wasn’t til my son served in Beriut tat i realized how much some people gave to this country. I have never lost a loved one or friend to war, but the fear of losing my son was there. thank God, he wasn’t hurt.My prayers and thanks to all the men and woman who serve for this great country. May it continue to be something to be proud of.
THANK YOU SOLDIER FOR ALL YOUR GENEROUS DEDICATION OF YOUR LIFE TO PRESERVING OUR FREEDOM FOR ALL OF US.
THANKS, LOVE AND PRAYERS,
SR. AGATHA, FMA
I lost my father in January 2012, he was a WWII veteran and was 95 years young. He was all about living and I have never seen a man with such a respect for life and his wife of 90, who he could not live without. She passed in November 2011. God Bless you Mom and Dad, all my love. fran
GOD BLESS YOU TOO
Thanks so much. I cared for both of them until their last breath. So heartbreaking, death, but I was thankful my Dad got shot so he could return to my Mom, as so so many veterans were not able to do. I pray for those families and God Bless you guys…
God Bless you and your Family….
Thanks so much. Pray for this country and don’t let these sob’s take God out of the military! They should go straight to jail for even considering it!!
HOPE YOU DON’T MIND=MY WIFE,NOW 89+=HER DAD WAS 82 YEARS YOUNG WHEN MY WIFE WAS BORN=TODAY SHE IS KNOWN AS A REAL DAUGHTER OF A TRUE CONFEDERATE VETERAN=HER DAD=A VETERAN OF A WAR SO LONG AGO=THE CIVIL WAR=1861-1865 FOR WHICH HER DAD FOUGHT THROUGH ALL OF IT.
I’M JUST AN EXTRA MARINE-NOW 90+ WHO SHARED SOME OF THIS, BUT ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD IN A DIFFERENT FIELD.
THANKS TO MY LORD ABOVE FOR ALL THINGS AND HIS CARING.
WELCOME HOME==ALL BOYS==NOW MEN.
Thank you to all who have served and are currently vigilent. Both of my grandfathers served WWII. One in the Pacific in the Army and one in the Navy. My husband served in Vietnam. These Freedom Flights must continue. Please support your Vets and their families.
Our Dad, Maynard H. Whitney, served in WW II. He could type &
take shorthand, and a U.S. General needed a Secretary just as Dad’s unit was about to be shipped out to the front lines. This
probably saved his life. I remember back in 1945 when he knocked at our front door and surprised us. He was holding a soldier doll for me in his arms. Bless our soldiers!
I was a WW II “dogface” with the 271st Engineer Combat Battalion, 3rd and 7th Armies in France, Belgium, Germany and Austria. I saw the horrors of war and the holocaust at their worst. I’m 89 now but those of us who are left would do it again if we could. Freedom is not free.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. MY DAD, DONALD L. OHLS SERVED IN WW11 AND HE WAS MY BEST FRIEND. HE KNEW HONOR. GOD BLESS YOU!
My family has served in the military for many generations. Uncles, father, brother and myself. As a retired airman I understand the call to duty and determination to keep our great nation free. I salute all military personnel before me, who served with me, and our current military personnel who have taken up the torch to keep our great nation free and May God Bless this great nation of ours. I would also like to salute the families of all military for standing by their decision to serve this country.
Ralph E. Haire
USAF/MSgt/Retired
My husband was drafted when he was just out of high school. He served in World War II and in the Korean War. He never liked to talk about the horrible things he went through, but thank our Heavenly Father – he came home. He lived until December 1997 – a wonderful husband and man. God Bless our soldiers where ever they may be. My husband served in the U.S. Army for over 20 years.
My late husband was a WWII Veteran and I have never met anyone who I admired more than I did him. He was truly a gentleman and officer. We had many years together but I miss him today, after 10 years, as much as I missed him the day after he died.
I retired from the Army after serving for 21 years. My father and 5 of his brothers served in WWII,3 in the Army and 3 in the Navy. All 6 came back. They will forever be in my heart and soul, part of the Greatest Generation. My father passed away at the age of 85, but 3 of his brothers are still alive. May God bless America and our men and woman serving in our armed forces. I SALUTE YOU.
THE GREATEST GENERATION! AMEN THANK YOU FOR SERVING AND YOUR FAMILY. THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT MADE THIS COUNTRY, THE USA, GREAT! I SALUTE YOU SIR.
For you Dad, 91 yrs young… fought for our freedom in WWII “Army Air Force” You were a hero then and you are my hero today !!!
Thank you Dad I’m so proud of you.
My Dad served with the 4th Marine Division during WWII in the Pacific. He enlisted right after Pearl Harbor, although he had two years of college under his belt, because he couldn’t wait. Platoon sergeant on Saipan, Tinian and Guam, he was pulled and sent back to Quantico for OCS in preparation for the landings in the Japanese homeland islands. The 4th Division went on to land at Iwo Jima, where most of his buddies were killed and wounded. Although he went into the Reserves after WWII to complete his degree and then returned to active duty as a Marine officer for Korea, he dealt with survivor’s guilt over Iwo for the rest of his life. He retired a major. Here’s to the American men who fought WWII. They grew up during the Depression and then marched off to war in Europe and the Pacific. They didn’t come home, those that did, until the war was over. They were giants and we owe them everything.
AGREED! GIANTS IN REAL LIFE.
God bless the men, women, and families from this Greatest Generation that answered the call of their nation to go and defeat the enemies of freedom in both Europe and the Pacific. Let us never forget all our armed services who have served and who now stand watch for our freedom. GOD bless the U.S.of A.
My dad served in Southeast China, Burma.
I was honored to be on the June 6th Honor Flight from Portland, OR. As a Woman Marine vet and one of only 4 woman WW II veterans on the flight, I was proud to be with the 50 gentlemen vets who served their country. Our reception at both Portland and Dulles airports was overwhelming and I shed many tears in appreciation. My brother was Army and my brother-in-law and future brother-in-law were Navy. All are deceased now but were with me in spirit. Thank you, Honor Flight for making this possible. I hope the public will donate freely to make more flights available to the few remaining WW II vets.
Honor is when just observing, reading or listening an act or the actors of that act, brings tears, not only at that time but for ever and ever after. These hero actors were boys when many honoring them today may not even have been born, and they fought not only for the freedom of the English people who were being battered by a devil but, for the freedom of the world at large–from east to west and north to south.
I served 30 years in the air force, and retired in 1983, but I still feel that what these WWII veterans did no others can achieve that valor fighting not just in one territory but all over the world–my SALUTE to these great veterans!