Monday, Oct. 26, 2009

Ninety-six Honor Flight veterans honored by trip to Washington

Some say trip was 'fantastic' and 'beautiful'

W.D. Jarrett refuses to believe he’s a hero.

In his eyes, the true heroes are those who lost their lives on the seas and battlefields of World War II. “I don’t call myself a hero,” said Jarrett, 85, of Columbus. “All the heroes are dead.”

Jarrett was one of 96 veterans and a number of volunteers and guardians who traveled Tuesday on a daylong West Georgia Honor Flight trip to Washington to visit the National World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Marine Corps War Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

Here were their thoughts about the day:

Early morning send-off

The veterans arrived at Columbus Metropolitan Airport around 6 a.m., where they were greeted by saluting soldiers and smiling well-wishers. The Infantry Center Band peppered its patriotic standards with songs from the 1940s, while women dressed in ’40s fashions mingled with veterans, snapping pictures of them.

Dewey McKenzie said he was surprised to see the level of community turnout for his group’s send-off to the nation’s capital.

“I really wasn’t expecting all the to-do they had for us,” McKenzie said. “It was quite impressive.”

West Georgia Honor Flight took off about 8:20 a.m. Aboard the chartered 737 were the veterans as well as 50 guardians and a handful of medical personnel.

“I’m just looking forward to a great day,” said Tom Woosley, 85, of LaGrange. “It’s been great so far. It couldn’t be better.”

Landing at BWI

After a 90-minute flight from Columbus, the Honor Flight touched down at the Baltimore-Washington International Airport. There, the veterans received a hero’s welcome.

The first thing they saw when they stepped off the plane were uniformed service members, United Service Organization volunteers, BWI staff and fire and emergency medical personnel. Each offered a handshake or a hug.

Tommy Hodge, 83, of Opelika, Ala., said he felt like a celebrity when he encountered the small but enthusiastic crowd at the Baltimore airport.

“It’s fantastic,” Hodge said. “I told them in Columbus we had such a tremendous reception and I said, ‘I can’t understand it. I’ve never even ran for president and here we are, it’s like the president has walked this way.’ It’s wonderful. I expected just a routine flight.”

National World War II Memorial

Tuesday marked Kellon “Shep” Shephard’s first visit to the National World War II Memorial. As the 83-year-old Phenix City resident sat surrounded by the monolithic stone arches and bas-relief sculpture panels of the grand tribute to his generation, Shephard recalled how the nation came together to fight and win a war.

“Freedom is not cheap,” Shephard said. “Sixteen million people, service people, fought and (more than 400,000) died. And not only them but Rosie the Riveter and her people and everybody during World War II. They went shoulder to shoulder to work through whatever they could to make sure it was a success and that’s what this country is made of ... I think there’s no question this is the greatest country and this memorial is the epitome of what freedom is all about.”