Photo By Staff Sgt. Chad Guthrie | Families with “welcome home” signs await to greet World War II veterans returning...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – American flags proudly displayed and waved for all to see ... homemade signs spread amongst the crowd ... cameras on standby ready to capture the moment their loved one steps off the plane.
Men, women and children gathered for another welcome home ceremony for our heroes that fight overseas, but this one was a little different. ... This one seemed to belong to another generation; another era, in fact, many of the signs read, "WELCOME HOME, GRANDPA."
On May 11, families and friends teamed with active-duty military personnel, welcomed World War II veterans returning from the Puget Sound Honor Flight at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Seattle.
The Puget Sound Honor Flight is a nonprofit organization that was created in March of 2013 by a group of various Puget Sound area individuals as part of The National Honor Flight Network. The overall mission of the organization is to transport Western Washington war veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit and reflect at memorials dedicated to honor their service and sacrifices.
This particular flight kicked off May 9, when 57 veterans partnered with 55 Guardians and volunteers were flown to Washington for a chance to visit various memorials such as, but not limited to, the WWII, Lincoln, Vietnam and Korean Memorials.
“We had three days of bonding in Washington,” said Homer Fairfield, a U.S. Navy veteran. “We got to know each other pretty well and we were comfortable with each other.”
Once it was all said and done, the veterans were flown back to Washington where they received a “hero's welcome home.”
“Today is the Puget Sound Honor Flight society return. The Puget Sound Honor Flight is a nonprofit organization that builds funds to help the veterans of WWII and, eventually veterans beyond, go back to Washington, D.C., to be able to visit memorials,” said Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jennifer Aguilar, Marine Corps Security Force Battalion, Bangor, Washington, career counselor. “When they return, the active duty members, that are coordinated by myself, actually provide an escort from the gate to the South Atrium for essentially an event in their honor.”
Active-duty service members stood at the position of attention as they waited for the veterans to exit the plane, where they rendered a salute and finally escorted the veterans one-by-one to their “welcome home” ceremony.
“It made me feel a little overcome,” said Fairfield. “I was amazed by how many of them [service members] turned out [and] came together."
Once at the South Atrium, the veterans were met by men, women and children coupled with service members from all branches, all welcoming the WWII veterans in a ceremony that consisted of a military band and bagpipe entertainers.
“I feel this is the welcome that the WWII people should have got at the end of the war,” said Fairfield.
The Puget Sound Honor Flight will eventually expand to include Korean War, Vietnam War, and all other veterans who served, but right now top priority is given to WWII and terminally ill veterans from all wars. Those who have already experienced the event, either as a volunteer or an actual veteran, seemed to not only share the same positive reactions about the event, but also expressed a sort of fulfillment.
“I love doing this,” said Aguilar. “My father served, my grandfather served, my great-grandfather served; so to me it’s an honor to be able to give them that presence and appreciation that they deserve.”
“I feel overwhelmed,” said Fairfield. “It was more than imagined; I’m really glad that I got to experience it.”
| Date Taken: | 05.11.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 05.27.2015 18:58 |
| Story ID: | 164739 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 38 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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