5/25/2010 11:57:00 AM
Honor Flight memories
Eberhardt visits memorials in Washington, D.C.
| |
|
 |
| Richard Eberhardt, Hanover, and his group visited the World War II Memorial. |
|
It was a flight he'll never forget.
Richard Eberhardt, Hanover, traveled on the Honor Flight in April, to visit veteran's memorials in Washington, D.C.
"I learned about the Honor Flight in March 2009, and immediately applied for a trip. I applied through the unit in the Quad Cities," Eberhardt wrote. He was entered on a waiting list, and was told the current wait was two years.
But the call came in January: his name was on the list of veterans to fly out of the Quad Cities on April 23.
"For me, the wait was unbearably long, like when I was little and was waiting for Santa Claus and Christmas."
The Honor Flight first took off in 2005. According to its website, honorflight.org, the first Honor Flight took 12 World War II veterans from Springfield, Ohio, to visit the memorial in Washington. The Honor Flight has grown over the years, and now includes several hub cities.
By the end of the 2009 flying season in November, the Honor Flight Network transported more than 35,996 veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam to see the memorials built to honor their suffering and sacrifice.
Eberhardt was partnered with guardian Sylvia Dingbaum, and veterans Harold Johnson-Dingbaum's father-and Urbin Conrad, a retired Navy petty officer. The plane touched down at Dulles National Airport at 10:45 a.m. on Friday, April 23. "When an airline pilot is landing after his last flight prior to retirement, he is greeted on the way to his off-loading area with a water cannon salute from the airport firemen. We were informed that this high honor would also be extended to us-and it was."
There were two other Honor Flight groups along with the Quad Cities group, from Georgia and South Dakota. "We kept meeting them throughout the day at the various memorials."
Jewel of the Mall
Eberhardt and his group visited the World War II Memorial, what he called the "Jewel of the Mall, placed between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Memorial adjacent to the Reflecting Pool. It was built in a circle surrounded by pillars representing every state and territory in the Union. The pillars were connected to each other by a large bronze rope passed through the base of each pillar, signifying the bonding together of the nation in a crisis. A large pond occupies the center, complete with fountains that shoot streams of water about 25-30 feet into the air.
"Granite tables occupy the spaces not used by the state pillars, and are also placed strategically throughout the area. There are two entrances to the memorial directly opposite each other. One is labeled 'Atlantic' and the other is labeled 'Pacific.' Eight bronze sculptures of eagles (four in each entrance) suspend bronze laurel wreaths. The eagles weigh 20,000 pounds each and the laurel wreaths weigh 8,000 pounds each. Two bronze oak and wheat wreaths are hung on each of the 56 state and territory pillars.
"We entered through the 'Pacific' entrance, which pleased me since I spent my overseas time in that area."
Eberhardt studied the walls of the memorial. "To me the most impressive wall was the one which contained four thousand gold stars-one for every one hundred military killed in action. I stood there in awe, wondering which star held my brother's name."
The group also saw the Iwo Jima memorial.
"I had seen the Iwo Jima memorial some years ago, but never stopped to examine it. Along with a sculpture of the famous picture taken by photographer Joe Rosenthal in 1945 on Mt. Suribachi on that hardscrabble island by the Marines, the names of all the major battles of the Marines since their origin during the Revolutionary War in 1776 were etched in gold letters around the base of the monument. We paused there for a necrology service for two veterans, scheduled for this flight, who passed away before they could make it."
The group also saw the Women's Memorial, dedicated to the Women Airforce Service Pilots, a women's flier organization formed and led by Jackie Cochrane, a pioneer woman aviator from the 1930s.
The group also saw Arlington National Cemetery. "The gravity and dignity of the area seized us all, as we began to speak to each other in soft voices and whispers. Surely this is hallowed and sacred ground, not to be defiled by usual conversation."
At Arlington National Cemetery, the group solemnly observed the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. "As we filtered out of the area of the Tomb, we were treated to another traditional ceremony. It was six o'clock and time to lower the flag for the evening. With clocklike precision, two guards lowered the flag and folded it for the evening into the familiar trifold we generally see."
The group also saw the Korean War Memorial, which features "16 statues of soldiers in their ponchos, walking through it on eternal patrol. Each more-than-life-size sculpture had a different expression on his face-one could almost sense their tension and apprehension as they waded through the mud-and since some of us could relate to the tension, the figures became almost lifelike. I suddenly remembered walking with my patrol during such assignments in the rice paddies, swamps and coconut/pineapple plantations in the Philippines."
The group flew back the same night. "There was a short delay (as vets we were painfully familiar of the general practice of 'hurry up and wait.' It could also be described as 'fubar' or 'snafu') when we reached Dulles-we went through the security procedures, and sat in the boarding area until about 9:45 before we boarded our Sun Country flight for Moline.
"A special treat was in store for us when we reached our flying altitude and were allowed to move about the cabin. We had 'mail call.'
"Mail call was always a special time for us GIs and we were quite surprised. Bob Morrison, our flight director, was able to convince the Davenport Commission of Veteran's Affairs about the importance of school children to recognize the participants of the Honor Flight, for each of us were given envelopes with three or four letters from children in the school system-my letters were neatly printed, penciled or computer-produced; one of mine was even written with crayons with smiles faces. I plan to write each one in return, thanking them for their kind words."
The flight returned to the Quad Cities late that night. "When we finally were able to leave the airport, we were escorted through another 'avenue of flags,' complete with cheers, applause and handshakes, hugs and 'thank yous' all the way to the exit doors."
"All the memorials we visited today served to regenerate the feeling of immense pride for our previous service and the personal pride with which we served our country. I am sure that all of us on Honor Flight 6 had the same feeling as we were taken from one memorial to another."
Editor's note: Eberhardt wrote about the Honor Flight trip in great detail in his piece "Honor Flight April 23, 2010."
|
Posted: Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Article comment by:
John Julies
My Grand Father John Julies WW1 vet
My Father William Julies Master Sergant WW2 vet
I'm trying to find out who to contact about Honor Flight for my 89 yr old Father William Julies
|
Article Comment Submission Form
|
|
