F16 1UB
08-17-2013, 08:03 PM
The Honor Flight of The Villages is a local chapter that arranges for WWII veterans, with a guardian, to go on a one day trip to Washington, DC to visit the war memorials. Today Honor Flights from Mar thru Jun met at La Hacienda Rec Center for an Alumni reunion. After some announcements and a video, the microphone was passed around to some of the veterans.
*I was too young to join the Army & they told me I needed my fathers signature. I asked mom & she said no. I then took my dad out and got him drunk. Dad said yes!
*Veteran tried to talk but was to emotionally choked up.
*I felt special at Arlington when a Vietnam Veteran biker from Rolling Thunder said "Make a hole, WWII vets coming through!"
*I joined the Navy to see the world. I didn't like it when I found out others shooting at me were using real bullets.
*Four served in 3 wars. WWII, Korea, Vietnam
*I got drafted and served in the Horse Calvary for 2 weeks. I got transferred to a mechanized division and served under Patton & Eisenhower. They were great generals.
*Army was never like this....as it is now. And I'm thinking about re-enlisting.
*The DC trip was the best thing that has ever happened to me.
*The Guardians that pushed the wheel chairs were great because of the hard job it was.
*Wife asked for her husband " Are there any veterans from Omaha Beach? He's never met anyone that was there. 2 raised there hands.
*The Navy was the worst. The whole time I was on board ship I was always sea sick and tore the lining out of my stomach.
*After boot camp in San Diego I saw a guys name that was at every place that I had been....Philippines, Guam, Okinawa...."Kilroy was here"....I also want to live to be 100.
Lady with a strong English accent stood up and said, " Thank God for the Yanks because if it weren't for them I wouldn't be here."
*If it wasn't for Truman dropping the bomb most of us would have paid a visit to Japanese homeland.
*I served in the Air Force as a radar maintenance officer. I got reassigned to missile maintenance and was trained in Dayton, OH.
*I met a young Italian gal that was a Navy Wave. That was 67 years ago and she's been taking care of me since.
*I joined the Navy for 23 years. Afterwards I joined the Merchant Marines for 23 years. Only NOW do I feel like a hero.
While there were many smiles and much laughter, there was also sadness on faces showing the price these men and women paid for our freedom.
Next Honor Flight will be Sep 8th. They will return to the American Legion around midnight.
Guardians are always in need and may contact Honor Flight at 352.432.1382.
If you know of ANY WWII veterans that want to go to Washington DC to visit the war memorials and aren't able to call/talk on the phone, a family member/friend may do so for them by contacting the Honor Flight 352.432.1382. The WWII Veteran travels for free. That's the least we could do for THE GREATEST GENERATION.
* WWII VETERAN
*I was too young to join the Army & they told me I needed my fathers signature. I asked mom & she said no. I then took my dad out and got him drunk. Dad said yes!
*Veteran tried to talk but was to emotionally choked up.
*I felt special at Arlington when a Vietnam Veteran biker from Rolling Thunder said "Make a hole, WWII vets coming through!"
*I joined the Navy to see the world. I didn't like it when I found out others shooting at me were using real bullets.
*Four served in 3 wars. WWII, Korea, Vietnam
*I got drafted and served in the Horse Calvary for 2 weeks. I got transferred to a mechanized division and served under Patton & Eisenhower. They were great generals.
*Army was never like this....as it is now. And I'm thinking about re-enlisting.
*The DC trip was the best thing that has ever happened to me.
*The Guardians that pushed the wheel chairs were great because of the hard job it was.
*Wife asked for her husband " Are there any veterans from Omaha Beach? He's never met anyone that was there. 2 raised there hands.
*The Navy was the worst. The whole time I was on board ship I was always sea sick and tore the lining out of my stomach.
*After boot camp in San Diego I saw a guys name that was at every place that I had been....Philippines, Guam, Okinawa...."Kilroy was here"....I also want to live to be 100.
Lady with a strong English accent stood up and said, " Thank God for the Yanks because if it weren't for them I wouldn't be here."
*If it wasn't for Truman dropping the bomb most of us would have paid a visit to Japanese homeland.
*I served in the Air Force as a radar maintenance officer. I got reassigned to missile maintenance and was trained in Dayton, OH.
*I met a young Italian gal that was a Navy Wave. That was 67 years ago and she's been taking care of me since.
*I joined the Navy for 23 years. Afterwards I joined the Merchant Marines for 23 years. Only NOW do I feel like a hero.
While there were many smiles and much laughter, there was also sadness on faces showing the price these men and women paid for our freedom.
Next Honor Flight will be Sep 8th. They will return to the American Legion around midnight.
Guardians are always in need and may contact Honor Flight at 352.432.1382.
If you know of ANY WWII veterans that want to go to Washington DC to visit the war memorials and aren't able to call/talk on the phone, a family member/friend may do so for them by contacting the Honor Flight 352.432.1382. The WWII Veteran travels for free. That's the least we could do for THE GREATEST GENERATION.
* WWII VETERAN