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.
Thanks to all…here’s to the memory of my Dad, Sparky Adam, who served in the European Theater in WWII…selfless, dedicated, determined and proud Americans. These heroes blazed a trail of honor that will always be the standard by which we measure ourselves as Americans.
God Bless America!
Colonel Tim Adam, USAF (ret)
Colonel: To all our fellow veterans and on duty personnel. THANK YOU for carrying the banner of freedom as the banner was carried eons ago.
Lest we forget, FREEDOM is NOT FREE.
G-d Bless America
We, the baby boomers and all the rest since, need to be reminded of the sacrifices (both home & overseas) so many made. Every veteran needs to be respected, from a private, orderly, sargeants, colonels and ship crews because they ALL deserve to say “Yes, I am a veteran” with pride & honor.
Appreciate all your father did in the Eurpoean Theataer in WWII
what a memory to cherish all your father did for America and also the many of those who were threatened by the enemy. My love to your fathers memory and he makes me feel so proud
it was not easy for our soldiers at all it was a war and I pray that we continue to honor and keep his memory alive in our hearts
and prayers our Republic and Freedom was saved by these courageous
men and women . We must never lose those thoughts and keep fighting for our freedom as it does not come free. God Bless you and your service. So humble, true and respected by so many.
My Dad, Allyn Young, couldn’t go to war. Mostly deaf since childhood, he watched as his brother, David, went into the army. He was bitterly disapointed that he couldn’t go, too.
It was different during the war, though. He searched for a job that would help the war effort and found it in his own town of Sausalito, California in the Kaiser shipyards. He started as a riveter and went on to supervise the placing of the complete bridge on Liberty ships.
David, who passed away a year and a half ago, didn’t like to talk about Sicily, Italy and all the way to Berlin, but he was proud of my Dad. He felt that Dad served in the only way that he could.
To me they were both vetrans.
May the memory of these brave men and women never dim.
Thomas Young
That was a wonderful tribute. Do you/we do the same for our other Vets particularly from the disgraced war of Vietnam?
My contemporaries are still littering the streets as they try and often fail to recover from traumas inflicted by the Vietnam War but also from the lack of appreciation from their countrymen.
The Vietnam was more brutal to individual soldiers than WW2. It called upon them to face the “enemy” in confusing, often degrading situations demanding great personal courage. Many situations they they had to resolve in small groups of soldiers, would be considered dishonourable by WW2 vets, confronting and often killing civilians in villages, who may or may not have been the enemy…..the whole war was fraught with contradictions but still we required young men to enter that terrifying arena to act out orders imposed by a geopolitical agenda, not to overcome the advances of a raving maniac such as Hitler who clearly threatened us all.
Hello,
I am the proud daughter of S/Sgt. Anthony Greco; U.S. Army – 36th Division-141st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion- Intelligence Squad; My father has just celebrated his 63rd wedding anniversary with my beautiful mother on July 3rd. He will celebrate his 92nd birthday on July 11th. My father still vividly remembers names, dates and times of the many events that transpired during the time he served our country. He would be proud to reminisce with anyone who would be interested in learning about his experiences first hand. My father was awarded numerous purple hearts and silver stars which we are extremely proud of as a family. If anyone would like to contact my father, please respond to this e-mail address and provide your contact information.
God bless America & our soldiers….young and old,
Francine Greco
As WWII combat vet., sometimes I have been overwhelmed by the out pouring honor on me . It make me feel very humble, yet , at the smae time , proud to have able to serve my country.
I am a canadian vetean of WW2 and Korea. It is so seldom that people show appreciation for what veterans did. Very good job.
THIS is the way all veterans deserve to be respected and honored. My father, Marvin E. Loudermilk, USArmy Ret after over 20 years of service (Korean War early 1950′s Korean again 1966 and then, Viet Nam early 1970′s)is our family’s honored hero. He’s got gray on top of his head, but we are blessed that he survived all the artillery shots, tank blasts and every thing else the enemy threw his way so he could come back to us, who love him more each time we see him. When we say to him that we are glad he made it through, Poppy always replies “nothing will keep me from coming home to my 4 girls.” He always included Mamie as “his girl.” Keep honoring our heroes, respect the veterans and say an extra prayer for the ones who couldn’t come home.
What a loving wonderful family man your father is. It was such a hardship for them to leave their families but they all did it for all of America. My thank you to your father, respect and true honor . God Bless him and his family that he cherished while serving our Republic and Freedom.
I was very young at the time of this war but grew into action upon my graduataion in nursing, and did spend time in the army hospital “Bushnell General” at Brigham City Utah. The friend that I married was a vet of the Manila activity and is now a resident at Arlington National Cemetary. I knew him when he played football for Augustana College but he never finished because of his injuries. Always a brave and wonderful person We had 30 wonderful years and 3 children to carry on his goals in life, a public servant a nurse and a doctor. I am a retired OR nurse having served 24 years in the OR after the war as well.
God Bless you Maxine for caring for our brave soldiers. Bless your wonderful husband in deefending freedom for Americans.
My blessings and God Bless you and your famiy.
I was a cadet nurse in the Army durring my training and was able to support our family after I graduated and after my husband could no longer function because of impaired vision and brain siezure activity result of his previous head injuries. I did work in the Surgery Dept of McKennan hospital in this town for 24 years after our children were all in school. I now live alone in an apartment, I work out at the senior center, I drive to visit my family in the state and am very well physicaly, memory is getting slow. Thank you
Proud of you Maxine what a commitment you made for our country
and your family. You sound like a woman I would have been so proud to be part of your life. You were part of mine and I did not know you at all. God Bless you and we can never say thank you enough.
The outpouring of appreciation and thanks to the Veterans demonstates the grtatitude of many persons. I served in the Navy during WW2 onn destroyers in the Pacific Theater
Thank you Gordon I will always cherish your honor and courage
to keep America free. All serving in WWII and all wars have my most blessed thank you. God Bless you all.
I would like to say i’am very proud of my dad who passed in 2006. he was a world war II VET WHO RECIEVED THREE PURPLE HEARTS AND GOT OUT OF THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF THE WAR AND SPENT SIX YEARS AT THE WALTER REED HOSPITAL GETTING PUT BACK TOGETHER. I AM A VET OF THE VIETNAM WAR. I THINK ALL VETS SHOULD BE RESPECTED FOR ALL THEY HAVE DONE TO KEEP THIS GREAT COUNTRY FREE. AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW WHO GAVE THEM THERE FREEDOM.
Thank you to your father and yourself for serving our country.
I respect, honor and proud of our Veterans they are all part of Americas greatest. Love them all and I agree the young people need to know who gave them freedom they take for granted as they are not learning this in the government school
system.
Right On Donald!!! Many young people need to learn to appreciate how lucky they are! My dad was a POW in WWll, shot down on a bombing run over Berlin. My cousin come home from Viet Nam forever changed. But they served their country proudly and never regretted what they gave up to serve their country! And you deserve a huge thank you for your service to our great nation. THANK YOU!
There are not enough thank you’s in the world to convey what the vets of all the wars have done for us. They have given us our freedom, sometimes at great cost … they and their families should never be forgotten.
I thank you, soldier, for what you did for me.
This is a great show. All veterans should be treated this way!
I AM PROUD OF MY FATHER WHO SERVED IN THE NAVY IN WWII.
I am a proud Grand daughter of Russell Clifton Brown. He was on the USS Curtis, moored in Hawaii on December 7,1941. He survived and I am thankful for all of the men and woman who fought and won!! God Bless You All!
I am the proud daughter Waist gunner Jack J. Krejci, a WWll vet/POW of Stalag 17B in Krems Austria. I was honored and thrilled when I was able to accompany an honor flight from Omaha. It was an experience I will forever treasure. Those guys/gals, truly are the “Greatest Generation” and made the world safe for everyone-even for the people who will never appreciate it!
With tears flowing I remember my brother, PFC Robert L. Duffey, who was killed 12/27/44 in the Battle of the Bulge. Just 19 years old. And my dear husband, MSgt. Charles H. Standard, a proud Marine. He served in WW2 on Okinawa and in the Korean War. He is at rest in the Houston National Cemetery.
GOD BLESS OUR COUNTRY AND THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO GIVE SO MUCH TO PROTECT OUR FREEDOM.
I am a Canadian veteran of WW2and Korea WW@ from 1942 to 1945 and Korea from 1951 to 1952. This was a nice presentation.
I was a little girl during world war but I remember it well as my family lived in Southern Calif. and Mom was a plane spotter & Dad was an Air Raid Warden. The blackouts were scary and everyone had black oil cloth to put over their windows. When at school we had practice time of getting under out desks for safety and we all bought saving stamps and then turned them into bonds. Yes I do remember those times and watching the injured men & women coming home. I was a proud little girl.
Thank you to all the soldiers of all the wars for keeping us safe,God Bless you all
They truly are “America’s Greatest Generation”. They saved America and allowed the rest of us to have the life we have. God bless them…..each and every one. To think so many in our country today want to “change” our way of life……..my blood boils at the thought!!!! They fought the Japanese and Germans – I fought the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong……I would be happy to take up arms again to fight the enemy within our borders today – many with American citizenship – many without- but if the battle grounds are the New Jersey shore, the Colorado mountains or the streets of new York City – bring it on – we are at war again with a cowardly enemy who lives on our soil and spits on all our honored veterans sacrifices and the way of life they gave us. God bless the “Real America” – God _ _ _ _ those who want to change it!
Sign me as a Proud “Old Fashioned” American – a Proud Marine – and a Proud Vietnam Veteran.
Thank you Gary. I’ve read many of these replys about veterans and you have told it straight like we need to hear it. God help this country today that is being over-run with unpatriotic people who want thier countrys flag flying instead of ours. Again thank you for your service and sacfifice to this great nation – The United States of America.
My husband, Joe, was a veteran of the Vietnam war. He served two tours there and received two purple hearts. I did not know him during that time, but was honored to be married to him thereafter. He survived Vietnam, but was later killed by a drunk driver. My heartfelt thank you to all who served in their respective wars. May God continue to bless all who protect our country.
My heart felt grattitude to those amazing men and women that defended freedom in those dreadful times. I only wish I could have been there that day to show my admiration of their unselfish actions. I have a whole family of service veterans, one that did serve in that awful war, the others served proudly in Korea, Viet Nam and even in operation Desert Storm. I’m a vet too and every vet knows what commitment and honor means, it means you’ll die for your country, but not in vain.
Soaring with eagles…………
Thanks to all…and here’s to the memory of my Dad, Walker Keene, who served in the Philippians in WWII. Their Service, Valor and Sacrifice can never be expressed in mere words. So many in this country do not understand everything we have today, our Freedom our Country, our families and our fortunes were earned for us by these Honorable men. The sacrifices of their family’s should not be overlooked as they worked the factories and plants, building the supplies need to fight this war living on rationed food and goods.
John keene
A Proud Marine. a proud Viet Nam Vet and a proud American.
Semper Fi!!
Thanks for everything you sacrificed to keep us free! From a retired SSG of 21.5 years.
To my father who fought for our freedoms, Jack M. Gibbs, an honorable WWII soldier…thanks dad!
This is in memory of my husband ,who at 18 fought and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge, in March, He would be so proud. I’m sorry he did not live to see all the Honors that the Veterans so rightly deserve
Norma Parrott
I wish I could have been there. I put in 25 years myself, but these Vets did a lot more than I have ever done. All of them have my greatest respect. They all have earned a hearty WELL DONE, and a well deserved THANK YOU!!!