Mission Accomplished!
Story by Ronald P. May, Indy Honor Flight Communications/Media Representative
On Saturday evening, September 7, the Indy Honor Flight hub completed their third trip to Washington D.C. bringing home 70 Central Indiana World War II veterans.
Among the veteran group were eight men and one woman from Johnson County: Chris Conrad, David Clark, Robert Felkins, Marvin Huff, Max Nelson, Charles Sallee, Clarence Schuster, Roy Spears and, the only female veteran in the group, Genevieve Whiteside. Six in the group served in the Army while two served in the Air Force (including Whiteside) and one in the Navy.
Several thousand family members, friends and patriotic citizens gathered at the Indianapolis International Airport in a parade-like atmosphere to clap, cheer and wave flags as the aged heroes from a war fought 70 + years ago passed by them one by one with large portraits of their service photos carried behind them by their guardians.
The veterans, many of whom returned from World War II months after its end and never received a proper homecoming, were welcomed back in grand fashion as they walked out of the B Concourse and into the Civic Plaza adorned with flags, balloons, posters and throngs of people.
A bagpipe procession led the way as each veteran and his/her guardian walked through a hallway of cheering people who had gathered to thank and welcome home their local heroes. Along the route, each veteran received a welcome home kiss from a woman dressed in 1940’s clothing. At the end of the hallway of people, the tired but extremely satisfied veterans were reunited with their family members. Tears, smiles and hugs were evident everywhere.
The travel group of 149 people (70 veterans, 70 guardians, and 9 volunteer staff) had departed earlier Saturday morning for the all day trip to Washington D.C.
Highlights of their excursion included stops at the National World War II Memorial, the Korean War and Vietnam Memorials and Arlington National Cemetery, where the group witnessed the impressive changing of the guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Four of the veterans helped place a wreath at the Tomb.
On the flight home the veterans enjoyed reading through cards and letters of thanks that were handed to them in the fashion of the ‘mail call’ they had once looked forward to while serving overseas.
The average age of the veteran group was 89. The oldest veteran was 96 and the youngest 85. A pair of brothers and one woman was also in the group.
With the completion of the third Indy Honor Flight, 220 Indiana veterans have been taken to Washington D.C. However, many more remain who have never seen the memorial erected in their honor. In addition, with advanced age and declining health, time is running out for them. That’s why there is such urgency behind the mission of the Indy Honor Flight that began in 2012 to fly veterans free of charge to Washington D.C. to see their memorial, enjoy a day of receiving thanks, and honor.
Next year Indy Honor Flight has set the ambitious goal of taking FOUR flights of veterans to D.C. “We’ll be relying on some generous contributions from individuals and businesses to make that goal a reality,” explained Grant Thompson, who started the Indy Honor Flight hub a year ago and serves as its Director.
The next flight is scheduled for April of 2014, and there are already 60 veterans on a waiting list. “If a veteran wants to go on one of our upcoming trips he/she needs to apply right away,” said Thompson.
For more information on signing up a veteran, making a contribution or volunteering with the organization visit their website at: www.indyhonorflight.org or find and like them on Facebook.com/IndyHonorFlight. You can also call them at 317-559-1600.
Local Participants in the Indy Honor Flight
Click on pictures to enlarge.
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