9/11/2012 - Honor Flight - Mike's Diary
Sept 9th Honor Flight Meet n Greet
Having only been home a day, Carey and I gathered all of the donated supplies and food for our first real event with Honor Flight. The luncheon was designed to be a meeting for all the veterans who were going on the flight and their families, as well as format to share information with Vets, families and guardians about the upcoming flight. We stayed pretty busy serving food, but afterward I got to chat with several of the vets about their experiences and their excitement about going on the next flight. As you may know, we are working with Honor Flight Network KC, to produce a series of short documentaries about their work, the experiences of these deserving veterans and the flights themselves. Most of the footage will be used to promote HFN, but some will be included in the TV pilot we are now in production of. It was a very emotional day as these men shared their excitement and very often stories about their experiences in combat during WWII.
It made us want to download all of their stories, from memory so that we could share them all with the world. We loose on average 1,000, of these veterans a day, imagine the stories of lives lived, lost forever...
Sept 11th, Patriots Day and the 11 year Anniversary of 9-11.
What a day! Sitting aboard the plane with my new friend Jack and 50 more of the nations greatest heroes, I was excited! We had arrived at the airport at 4 am and in spite of the early hour the energy level of these men and women was outstanding! I'm so used to traveling with a younger crowd, I didn't know what to expect, but as we taxied out to the runway these veterans were full of energy, the youngest was 84, the oldest 94 years old! Every window was filled with the face of a deserving veteran, excited to see the world outside, many were so enthralled by the world outside they seldom took pause to look away from the world below as we flew to DC. As I said, I'm so used to the more common crowd of modern travelers, most often the shade is drawn and very regularly the traveler never lifts the shade to see the world outside! It was fun to see these men and women enjoying something so simple that so many take so for granted today. We've become so accustomed to the modern age, we don't stop to think about what we're missing right outside our window...
The reception at the airport had me in tears... As we neared the terminal, the US Airways ground crews were poised to welcome these heroes. Fire trucks used their cannons to form an archway that the jet taxied under, while baggage handlers sped along side with their baggage carts covered with welcome signs and flags! Instead of the normal orange cones, ground handlers held American flags and everyone on the tarmac, stopped and waved at the plane, smiling, waving and some cheering for these men. My new friend Jack had been on a Sherman Tank crew in the European Theater during WWII, and as tears filled his eyes he explained that he had seen nothing like this in his life. I was proud to accompany him on this pilgrimage.
After reaching the Jetway, Jack was greeted by several active duty uniformed veterans, soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen. They greeted my friend Jack as only another veteran could. Firm handshakes and solemn thank you's were presented, accompanied by some deeply meaningful salutes. As we made our way up the Jetway, we found that US Airways crews had come from all over just to decorate and welcome them.
The most moving moment was as we got nearer to the terminal, as we could hear music and people cheering! My new friend grew several inches in his wheelchair as people shook his hand, cheered and thanked him for his service. People hugged him, patted him on the back and a member of the Veterans guard, a group of motorcycle riders that dedicate themselves to protecting the rights of vets, stopped Jack, bent over and excitedly handed him a small US flag and exclaimed: " Way to go sir, way to show em! You guys really kicked some ass over there!" Jack burst into a sort of laugh, and tears filled his eyes. I could barely stand to push him through the crowd, as I didn't want it to end for him! We continued along as we were on a mission to meet our bus, but all the while people were stopping us, thanking him for his service and frequently giving him a well deserved and long overdue hug. I was proud to be an American that day more than I think I have ever been. Proud to be with so many deserving and sweet men and women, proud to have been allowed to share in the journey, proud to see the goodness and respect so many people showed to these veterans! Throughout the day we visited the memorials dedicated to these men, and all of them seemed so full of youthful energy and zest that I couldn't believe their average age was more than twice that of mine! Many stories were shared and many memories brought back to the front of thought for these men and women. In a word, amazing.
Finally after each veteran had received mail-call on the return flight, which consisted of letters from family, local school kids and even senators and fellow veterans we landed in KC at nearly 10:00pm. 16 hours after we had embarked on our journey. Most of the vets felt like it was over, but much like they had received in DC, the good hard working people of KC came to welcome them back. I watched as once again the received cheers and handshakes, hugs and heartfelt thanks, and I couldn't help but notice the type of people who had taken the time to show these men the gratitude they so very much deserved. There were no doctors, lawyers or men in suits. Instead the halls were lined once again with even more of the veterans bikers groups each holding full sized flags, airport employees and average everyday people. It seems to me just as it was then that the greatness of this country does not and has never depended upon the upper class and wealthy. It is founded on the everyday, hard working and sometimes down and dirty men and women, who often receive less of the "American dream", but seem to hold it closest to heart. In 1941, our greatest generation gave up their lives, their families and their way of life to serve our nation and the world in it's hour of greatest despair and need. Years spent from home under fire in strange lands, friends and family killed in action, lives changed forever and the freedom of the world preserved. They gave up their "today" to ensure future generations "tomorrow"... They have faded quietly into history. Their stories lost, and forgotten. The simple joy of looking out an airplane window, and a short trip to Washington DC their only real reward. But never did I hear a single complaint. These men and women know what price they paid, and the reward, though sometimes unseen, is the satisfaction they each share. The knowledge of a job well done, a nation served, and a people saved. WWII was won by the PFC, not the general. Most of the men on Honor Flight, were your everyday average "Joe" average Joe's who shared a common trait; uncommon valor.
We can't wait to continue working with them and to hold Cakefest in their honor. Each flight is monumentally expensive, and even more important as time is now the enemy. Since the previous flight 17 veterans passed. 17 veterans wont get to experience the gratitude so due to them. Join with us to help get as many of them as possible the respect and gratitude they have earned.
See you soon, at KC Cakefest...
Peace n Love
Mike
Having only been home a day, Carey and I gathered all of the donated supplies and food for our first real event with Honor Flight. The luncheon was designed to be a meeting for all the veterans who were going on the flight and their families, as well as format to share information with Vets, families and guardians about the upcoming flight. We stayed pretty busy serving food, but afterward I got to chat with several of the vets about their experiences and their excitement about going on the next flight. As you may know, we are working with Honor Flight Network KC, to produce a series of short documentaries about their work, the experiences of these deserving veterans and the flights themselves. Most of the footage will be used to promote HFN, but some will be included in the TV pilot we are now in production of. It was a very emotional day as these men shared their excitement and very often stories about their experiences in combat during WWII.
It made us want to download all of their stories, from memory so that we could share them all with the world. We loose on average 1,000, of these veterans a day, imagine the stories of lives lived, lost forever...
Sept 11th, Patriots Day and the 11 year Anniversary of 9-11.
What a day! Sitting aboard the plane with my new friend Jack and 50 more of the nations greatest heroes, I was excited! We had arrived at the airport at 4 am and in spite of the early hour the energy level of these men and women was outstanding! I'm so used to traveling with a younger crowd, I didn't know what to expect, but as we taxied out to the runway these veterans were full of energy, the youngest was 84, the oldest 94 years old! Every window was filled with the face of a deserving veteran, excited to see the world outside, many were so enthralled by the world outside they seldom took pause to look away from the world below as we flew to DC. As I said, I'm so used to the more common crowd of modern travelers, most often the shade is drawn and very regularly the traveler never lifts the shade to see the world outside! It was fun to see these men and women enjoying something so simple that so many take so for granted today. We've become so accustomed to the modern age, we don't stop to think about what we're missing right outside our window...
The reception at the airport had me in tears... As we neared the terminal, the US Airways ground crews were poised to welcome these heroes. Fire trucks used their cannons to form an archway that the jet taxied under, while baggage handlers sped along side with their baggage carts covered with welcome signs and flags! Instead of the normal orange cones, ground handlers held American flags and everyone on the tarmac, stopped and waved at the plane, smiling, waving and some cheering for these men. My new friend Jack had been on a Sherman Tank crew in the European Theater during WWII, and as tears filled his eyes he explained that he had seen nothing like this in his life. I was proud to accompany him on this pilgrimage.
After reaching the Jetway, Jack was greeted by several active duty uniformed veterans, soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen. They greeted my friend Jack as only another veteran could. Firm handshakes and solemn thank you's were presented, accompanied by some deeply meaningful salutes. As we made our way up the Jetway, we found that US Airways crews had come from all over just to decorate and welcome them.
The most moving moment was as we got nearer to the terminal, as we could hear music and people cheering! My new friend grew several inches in his wheelchair as people shook his hand, cheered and thanked him for his service. People hugged him, patted him on the back and a member of the Veterans guard, a group of motorcycle riders that dedicate themselves to protecting the rights of vets, stopped Jack, bent over and excitedly handed him a small US flag and exclaimed: " Way to go sir, way to show em! You guys really kicked some ass over there!" Jack burst into a sort of laugh, and tears filled his eyes. I could barely stand to push him through the crowd, as I didn't want it to end for him! We continued along as we were on a mission to meet our bus, but all the while people were stopping us, thanking him for his service and frequently giving him a well deserved and long overdue hug. I was proud to be an American that day more than I think I have ever been. Proud to be with so many deserving and sweet men and women, proud to have been allowed to share in the journey, proud to see the goodness and respect so many people showed to these veterans! Throughout the day we visited the memorials dedicated to these men, and all of them seemed so full of youthful energy and zest that I couldn't believe their average age was more than twice that of mine! Many stories were shared and many memories brought back to the front of thought for these men and women. In a word, amazing.
Finally after each veteran had received mail-call on the return flight, which consisted of letters from family, local school kids and even senators and fellow veterans we landed in KC at nearly 10:00pm. 16 hours after we had embarked on our journey. Most of the vets felt like it was over, but much like they had received in DC, the good hard working people of KC came to welcome them back. I watched as once again the received cheers and handshakes, hugs and heartfelt thanks, and I couldn't help but notice the type of people who had taken the time to show these men the gratitude they so very much deserved. There were no doctors, lawyers or men in suits. Instead the halls were lined once again with even more of the veterans bikers groups each holding full sized flags, airport employees and average everyday people. It seems to me just as it was then that the greatness of this country does not and has never depended upon the upper class and wealthy. It is founded on the everyday, hard working and sometimes down and dirty men and women, who often receive less of the "American dream", but seem to hold it closest to heart. In 1941, our greatest generation gave up their lives, their families and their way of life to serve our nation and the world in it's hour of greatest despair and need. Years spent from home under fire in strange lands, friends and family killed in action, lives changed forever and the freedom of the world preserved. They gave up their "today" to ensure future generations "tomorrow"... They have faded quietly into history. Their stories lost, and forgotten. The simple joy of looking out an airplane window, and a short trip to Washington DC their only real reward. But never did I hear a single complaint. These men and women know what price they paid, and the reward, though sometimes unseen, is the satisfaction they each share. The knowledge of a job well done, a nation served, and a people saved. WWII was won by the PFC, not the general. Most of the men on Honor Flight, were your everyday average "Joe" average Joe's who shared a common trait; uncommon valor.
We can't wait to continue working with them and to hold Cakefest in their honor. Each flight is monumentally expensive, and even more important as time is now the enemy. Since the previous flight 17 veterans passed. 17 veterans wont get to experience the gratitude so due to them. Join with us to help get as many of them as possible the respect and gratitude they have earned.
See you soon, at KC Cakefest...
Peace n Love
Mike
