My husband, Roger, was privileged to be flown on a chartered Honor Flight for Utah Veterans to Washington, DC, for 2 days and a night to visit US Armed Forces Memorials. He is the greatest patriot I know! He loved the privilege of serving his country as a flight instructor for the South Vietnamese and the German students during the War in Vietnam. The monies for this venture are private donation and they take four chartered flights a year. This was the 39th Honor Flight to go since they began. They have mostly worked through the WW 2 vets, the Korean War vets and are now taking the War in Vietnam vets. Roger said there were 9 Korean War vets on this flight and one WW2 vet. They were treated very appreciatively everywhere they went, with many clapping for them and coming up and shaking hands with them at the memorials. Many of the War in Vietnam vets talked about how this reception was very different from when they returned from the war. Some talked of paint being thrown on them and being ridiculed and spit on - the result of the liberal anti-war sentiment as the war deesculated. What people forgot then was that it was a mandatory draft for most of that war, and those vets could have defected to Canada instead, if their draft number came up. They chose to serve our country!
Rick, our oldest child, consented to be his Escort, which each vet had and each escort paid his way. It was so nice of him to take time to do this and I know they shared some special moments together on this trip.
Many military personnel were at the SLC Airport to send the vets off.
The flight attendants and the plane were decked out in patriotic colors.
Roger went back to get a drink and this flight attendant saw his name tag and said, "Do you know Dr. Stratford from Mesa?" He said, "He is my son!" She said, "He was my surgeon 4 years ago and changed my life and I love him! I tell everyone how great he is!"
So sweet to hear such a ringing endorsement from a stranger to this dad's ears!
During the flight there was Mail Call. Each of the guardians had contacted loved ones to write letters of appreciation to their vet. Roger said he got a few tears reading his letters from his kids, grandkids. siblings and his wife!
When they landed in Baltimore they were given a water salute from water trucks on each side of their plane.
They were first taken to the Marine Memorial and saw this famous statue commemorating this critical moment in WW 2 on Iwo Jima.
That evening they were honored at a banquet for vets and their guardians.
Roger took a pic of the WW 2 vet (96) and his guardian. He was the 2000 vet to be sent on the Honor Flights.
They were all put up in a nice Hilton hotel, then, next morning, they went to many memorials.
They watched a changing of the guard, which is so impressive.
Arlington Memorial Cemetery
Missing Man Formation Monument. Roger was excited to see this memorial since it was new since he lasted visited D.C.
WW 2 Memorial
There were 68 vets, each with a guardian. Roger said more than half of them were in wheelchairs.
They were impressed with the Star Wall. Each star represents 100 servicemen who have been killed in the line of duty in WW 2.
The wall where all of the servicemen's names are engraved who died in the War in Vietnam is in the background.
Roger showed Rick Serge Simmons's name. He was a close high school friend who joined the marines and died in Vietnam.
Rick and Roger are standing on the mall with the Washington Monument in the background.
Korean War Monument
Navy War Memorial
Fort McHenry
When the chartered plane landed back in SLC at 11:30 PM (more than 2 hours late because they were delayed with weather), a large crowd of family, friends and a military band enthusiastically greeted them. Our wonderful Jodie made two amazing posters to greet Roger!
Roger said about this experience." It was an honor and a privilege to be selected for the Utah Honor Flight and visit the military memorials. It was extra-special because my son, Rick, was able to be my Guardian! It heightened my sense of patriotism and freedom!"
Roger and I celebrated Father's Day back in St. George with a special Sacrament meeting in Church and surf and turf (we shared a filet of steak and a filet of salmon), after a shrimp cocktail and had baked potatoes, asparagus and sour cream lemon pie for dessert. The best part of the day was receiving the phone calls, cards and texts from kids and grandkids.
