This past Saturday, my Grandaddy was honored for his service to the United States during World War II with a trip to Washington D.C. to visit the World War II Memorial.
Grandaddy, Mom and I went to Huntsville Friday evening so we could be better prepared to gather with the other Veterans and their families along with the Honor Flight volunteers at 5AM. We arrived at the hotel shortly before 9PM on Friday night and quickly unpacked for the morning and got Grandaddy into bed. Neither Mom nor I slept very soundly that night since we were anxious about how Grandaddy would react to strange surroundings—especially without his bedrails on the hotel bed.
Mom and I were both awake before the alarm sounded at 4AM, so we got ourselves ready before waking Grandaddy since he would need as much energy as possible to make it through the day. We got him up and dressed and he took his medicine and drank some coffee to help wake him up.
Before we knew it it was time to go to the terminal. Thankfully, we stayed in the airport hotel, so we didn’t have to worry about cars or parking that early in the morning. We took the elevator down to the second floor and were immediately greeted by the Honor Flight volunteers. Grandaddy was brought a wheelchair and a Honor Flight t-shirt to wear during the day. He also got a nametag and was asked to sign a poster along with all of the other Veterans making the trip.
There was a short ceremony before the Veterans left to go through security to the gate. I got a little teary-eyed when the soldiers were called back to “Voluntary Active-Duty” and were given “orders” to travel to Washington D.C to view their memorial.
Before we knew it, it was time to say goodbye and let his guardian take him to the security checkpoint. Both Mom and I were anxious when we had to let him go. She said it was worse than letting me go off to school!
Mom and I packed up our hotel room and loaded the car before going to the top floor of the airport parking deck to watch the plane depart. They were a bit behind schedule, but I can’t blame them considering they had several hundred people to manage and many of them required wheelchairs, canes, or supplemental oxygen. We waved and cheered for the two fighters that served as the escort for the Veterans and then waved as the plane with our loved ones taxied down the runway and then took off. It was quite cold and it began to rain, but Mom and I chose to stay until the flight took off. We discussed how many of those soldiers did not have family to wish them well when they shipped out—it was the least we could do to say goodbye this time.
We returned to Huntsville around 7:30 for what was supposed to be an 8:30 ceremony to welcome the Veterans back home. Soon after we arrived, we learned that the plane had mechanical difficulties and was going to be late arriving back in Huntsville.
Grams waiting for her husband of nearly 64 years.
We were given word that the plane had arrived and that the first Veterans had deplaned. Then, the ceremony started and each Veteran was called by name as he or she came into the public waiting area of the airport.
We waited for what seemed like forever for Grandaddy. I was beginning to wonder if something was wrong when it seemed like everyone else had seen their family members. Many people followed their Veteran and there were significantly fewer people left to greet our returning heroes.
Finally, Grandaddy was spotted by Daddy—one of the benefits of having a 6’3” father! I had Grams right beside me and I made sure she knew he was coming. It was the sweetest thing when she kissed him as soon as he got close enough to us to reach him. This was something special to see because my Grandparents are not often affectionate toward each other in public. Don’t get me wrong, they are loving toward each other at home, but not especially so in public situations. I think that comes with the way the were raised and the time period in which they grew up.
These smiles are something we haven’t seen much of in the past year. It warmed my heart to see him so happy, albeit exhausted.
It was quite late when we dropped them off at home. Grams said he slept like a log and they woke up much later than usual on Sunday. He didn’t seem as exhausted as I would have imagined on Sunday when we ate lunch together though.
I’m so glad he was able to experience this and that we were able to see him have such a nice day. We will forever be grateful to Davis & Beth Lee, the couple whose $100,000 gift made this trip possible. I actually met them before I knew their connection to the Honor Flight program and they were such kind people who did not want recognition for their part in Saturday’s flight. Beth Lee actually made pictures for us in Washington and was kind enough to email them to me last night.
All in all, it was a wonderful day! :)
