“Honor Flight -- World War II Veterans Visit Their Memorial”
by John Kinyon
 A year ago my father, who served in the Army Air Corps, heard about Honor Flight Chicago, the local affiliate of an all-volunteer organization that provides World War II veterans with a free trip to Washington, D.C. to visit "their memorial." He and a friend signed up, and were scheduled to go on April 21, 2010. I signed up and paid my way as a Guardian, responsible for ensuring  their safety. In preparation for the flight, I arranged for friends and family to prepare letters similar to what "our boys" would have received while serving the country.
We arose at 2 AM and drove to Midway Airport, arriving by 4:15, two hours before departure. After getting our "orders" and clearing security we were escorted by Navy recruits to the gate, where we were  treated to a USO breakfast and an Andrews Sisters style performance by The Legacy Girls. Their presence was welcomed with great enthusiasm, despite the early hour and advanced ages of the veterans. Sixty veterans plus their Guardians, organizers, and a nurse completely filled a Southwest Airlines 737, and the volunteer crew greeted them warmly.
Upon arrival at Dulles, the honored guests were welcomed by dozens of flag-waving and applauding civilians. We boarded four full-sized coaches for the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum for a guided tour focusing on the WW II era. After lunch the buses drove past Arlington Cemetery and the Iwo Jima Memorial, stopping at the WW II Memorial. There  was time to explore the impressive  memorial, and to reflect on the war and the contributions and sacrifices of so many. One wall holds 4048 gold stars, each representing 100 Americans who died in the war. Many veterans were met by friends and family in the area, and a few were interviewed by local news organizations. An honor guard presented colors and played taps; a moment that was especially poignant. We proceeded to the Lincoln Memorial and visited the nearby Vietnam and Korea Memorials despite intermittent rain. At each stop every veteran was escorted by active-duty military personnel, each of whom enjoyed exchanging  experiences with members of "the greatest generation."
In preparation for the flight home, each person enjoyed a box dinner on the bus ride to Dulles.  During the flight the veterans were surprised with "mail call", and each veteran was surprised and thrilled to receive thoughtful letters from friends, family, and school children in the Chicago area.  My father was especially surprised to receive a Proclamation by the Village of Lake Barrington declaring that day Sergeant John H. Kinyon Day! As the plane approached Chicago and the lights dimmed, the veterans began signing God Bless America. The plane was greeted at the gate by all the airport's police and fire equipment, lights blazing and the officers saluting. The Jetway was lined with applauding staff from Southwest Airlines and fire and police officers. A military officer greeted each veteran at the gate and  shook their hands. The returning heroes were escorted from the gate to the security checkpoint between two rows of Naval recruits who saluted as they passed.
Beyond the checkpoint, three dozen members of the American Veterans Motorcycle Riders Association enthusiastically shook hands and thanked every veteran. Last,  but not least, hundreds of cheering people welcomed the veterans home and thanked them for their service! It was overwhelming! The icing on the cake was the surprised look on my dad's face when he saw my mom. What a far cry from his return from war. His discharge was not scheduled; he simply came home in the middle of the day, let himself in, changed into his civvies, and waited for the family to return that  evening. All an all, the day was very emotional. The veterans were overwhelmed by the gratitude expressed by the likes of you and me.
There are thousands of World War II veterans in the Chicago area, but their ranks are thinning rapidly since most are in  their late 80s and early 90s. Honor Flight Chicago will make ten trips this year, and the waiting list is long. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation and welcoming our boys home at Midway. To learn more about their experience, watch the 10-minute Emmy Award-winning documentary at honorflightchicago.org. 
 
 
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