Tue Feb 09 2010
By JENNY DERRINGER
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Veterans who came together for a single goal more than 60 years ago to win the most devastating war in history went their separate ways after the war and got on with their lives.
On Saturday, dozens of northwest Ohio's aging veterans reunited from all walks of life -- retired farmers, factory workers, business men and custodians alike. The 129 World War II veterans once again had one thing in common over the weekend, to visit the World War II Mem-orial in Washing-ton, D.C., dedicated to their service and sacrifice.
The Honor Flight veterans from Defiance, Paulding, Henry, Williams, Fulton and Putnam counties, along with 39 guardians boarded charter buses early Saturday morning bound for Toledo Express Airport. There, they boarded a direct charter flight to Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Va., just 35 miles outside of Washington, D.C.
The Ohio-based Honor Flight trip was offered locally by VFW Post 3360 men's auxiliary which raised thousands of dollars so the veterans could have the opportunity to visit not only the World War II Memorial but the Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial War and Arlington National Cemetery.
Also visiting the nation's Capital that day were Honor Flight groups from Detroit, Dayton and Columbus, noted VFW representative and co-organizer Mike Boff.
The local veterans proudly wore their Honor Flight t-shirts that read on the back, "If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a veteran."
While most participants were able to get around quite well on their own, wheelchairs and powered scooters were available for those needing a bit of assistance on Saturday.
After getting off the bus at the World War II Memorial, the initial plan was to line up and conduct a brief ceremony at the Ohio pillar involving an American flag given to the group earlier in the day in Defiance by U.S. Rep Paul Gillmor. But plans are made to be broken, especially once the veterans spotted Bob Dole, one of the longest serving Senate leaders of the Republican Party.
At that point, many took turns getting their picture taken with Dole before entering the memorial site.
Virgil Meyer, who served in both the Pacific and Atlantic theatres from 1945-46, was happy to get the chance to visit the memorial. He served in Germany and escaped injury while abroad.
"This is wonderful," said Meyer. "I really wanted to see Bob Dole in person because he's the one that kept sending those letters that said to send money (for the memorial)."
Also on board was Francis Baldwin of Bryan who enlisted in November 1942 and was discharged in November 1945. He served in England, France, Luxemborg, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands with the 351st Engineers and survived the Battle of the Bulge.
"I thought it was beautiful," said Baldwin of the memorial which was dedicated on May 29, 2004. "A picture of it just doesn't tell the story." One has to see the grand memorial in person to appreciate its size and symbolism.
An oval-shaped pool and numerous fountains are the center of the memorial, with towering granite Atlantic and Pacific markers at each end. Lining the oval sides are markers designated for each state. One section with its own pool is somberly decorated with 4,000 gold stars on the Freedom Wall commemorating the more than 400,000 Americans who died in the war. For more information, visit its website at www.wwiimemorial.com.
American flags were given out early in the trip to all Honor Flight participants as souvenirs, with the one given to this reporter now designated to decorating the grave of her father, also a World War veteran of the 82nd Airborne who died in 1989.
As the temperatures rose into the 90s and the day wore on, fatigue settled in on the senior citizens and their guardians alike. Many began to seek the shelter of a shade tree or the air-conditioned chartered buses by the time the tour of the Korean and Vietnam memorials began.
Wrapping up the brief day in Washington was a quick stop at Arlington National Cemetery, which capped off the whirlwind tour of the Capital.
Taking advantage of the once in a lifetime Honor Flight opportunity was Helen Straman of Brunersburg.
"I didn't do much serving except in the Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne as a member of the nurses cadet corps," she explained. "I signed up a year before I graduated and we were to go to as soon as we graduated. But fortunately the war was over before then.
"I think this is fantastic and someone went to an awful lot of work to put this all together," added Straman.
"The monuments are wonderful, it's a beautiful day and everybody seems to be having a good time. And I'm sure glad I let Dan Ball (co-coordinator) talk me into this. My husband would have been really glad to be here."
Her deceased husband had served in Germany, England and France for three years with the U.S. Air Force.
"But he'll have to look down on it," she said.
During the bus shuttle from the Dulles terminal, folks had the chance to sit back, relax and reflect on the day.
The things we've seen in a lifetime," noted Herbert Hart, "there will never be another generation to see that again."
Strict airport security in Toledo and Dulles made for some interesting memories with everyone on the trip having to take off their shoes. Those setting off the metal detectors were routinely pulled aside, many with artificial knees or metal plates.
"The size of the group made for some complications, like a lot of waiting," said Defiance veteran Fran Seibert, who served in Texas. "But the coordinators really did a great job considering the number of handicapped people here."
"I've had nothing but good comments," said Boff on the late-night ride home to Defiance. "The guys really enjoyed it. We did it for them and it made it all worthwhile."
The VFW men's auxiliary has a list of approximately 50 veterans who are interested in going to the memorial should there be another trip planned, noted Boff.
"We want to reach out to other counties," he stressed.
"We will work with any group so they can get the fund-raising started in their counties. A trip could be scheduled in the fall. I think it's a worthwhile cause to keep it going. We have guys that still want to go."
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