Can I brag a little? - The DIS Discussion Forums

OrlandoMike · 09-29-2009, 05:33 PM

My 89 year old Grandfather, a veteran of World War 2, was recently awarded a trip to Washington DC as part of the Honor Flight program. The Honor Flight Program is a program set up to get as many WW2 vets to Washington to see the War memorial as they can, at little or no cost to them at all.

My Mom went with him, and here is a little of what she had to say...

The only description I can give of arriving at the WWII Memorial is over whelming. There had to be at least 1200 vets some with their medals on, some with WWII uniforms on, some with only their military hats on. While taking my Dad around to see everything we met so many local Baltimore/Washington, DC residents who just come over every Saturday to shake the vets hands and thank them for their service. One young man had WWII uniform on and was passing out "Kilroy was here" notes LOL. I absolutely in my wildest dreams would never think that so many people would take time out of their lives for a few hours each week to express their gratitude. There were also men who are currently serving the country who also made an effort to talk with the vets.

Both Senator Dole and his wife Elizabeth come each and every Saturday to meet as many veterans as possible. Warned that Elizabeth is a hugger and to enjoy her, but to absolutely not try to shake hands with the Senator. Elizabeth came right up to my Dad and started telling us her brother was on the Saratoga so she has warm feelings for the Navy which my Dad was in.

Here is a pic of my Grandfather and Elizabeth Dole! I am so proud of him!

Gypsybear · 09-29-2009, 05:39 PM

Mike, that's AWESOME!!

Thanks for sharing that story with us...

wallyb · 09-29-2009, 05:43 PM

WOW!
That is Freaking awesome!

OrlandoMike · 09-29-2009, 06:00 PM

More from Mom....I have to find out more about this organization! I'll send cash, or heck, I'll drive three vets up myself if I have to!

http://www.honorflight.org/

Would like to tell you about the group from Rochester, NY. Fourteen months ago a gentleman brought his dad to the Memorial and was so impressed with the program, he went back home and started getting community support for this program. Their group filled up a commercial airplane; local residents were on hand at the airport before they left passing out their shirts (orange); when they return to Rochester their local TV stations will cover this and they will have a band playing at the airport plus active military people welcoming them home. That is what community support can do for this program! How I wish Florida could be that involved.

Instead of eating at the Golden Coral as originally planned, our Saturday evening meal was a banquet with the Rochester group. I was walking through the lobby and a Rochester vet was sitting on the couch (resting I would assume) and I walked over to him and shook his hand, thanked him for his service and asked how he had enjoyed his trip. Those 80-something eyes looked up at me and to me his eyes looked like a little boy on Christmas morning and he said "I just can't believe what they have done for us, it's just amazing". I will never forget that man or the glowing look of happiness on his face.

I was so impressed at the first class treatment we all received and as I said earlier all of this at absolutely no cost to the veteran as Jim McLaughlin the Chairman of Honor Flight says - they have already paid enough. We were given coupons for drinks in the bar, breakfast both Saturday and Sunday, a box lunch on Saturday and the banquet meal on Saturday evening. They run completely on donations. Hopefully I haven't bored you to tears with my trip report, but I was just so touched by this whole experience I wanted to share. More importantly, maybe you know someone else who would like to experience this also. I'm not the greatest photographer, but I have sent along some pictures and when the album comes up if you double click on the first picture, hopefully it will be a slide show.

rosiep · 09-29-2009, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrlandoMike

Here is a pic of my Grandfather and Elizabeth Dole! I am so proud of him!

As well you should be! That's so damn cool!
Thanks for sharing.

APX · 09-29-2009, 07:02 PM

Very lucky to have a grandfather like that. I'm very jealous of you.

avenueqpat · 09-29-2009, 07:14 PM

Very Cool!

DVC~OKW~96 · 09-29-2009, 07:21 PM

O'Mike, that is incredible. I haven't heard about this before, the sending of Veterans to DC. Thank you for sharing the info with us, but more so thank you for sharing your Grandfather.

If you find out any more about this group that runs on donations only, please tell us? I know I'd be very honored to send a donation.

itsmuggsie · 09-29-2009, 08:51 PM

That's awesome!!! What a great organization.

I was up in DC end of April and the WWII memorial is very impressive.

rpmdfw · 09-29-2009, 09:06 PM

Mike, that's awesome!

Thanks for sharing it.

starann · 09-29-2009, 09:20 PM

Mike, thanks so much for sharing this. My poppop died a few years ago, but I would have LOVED for his to have had a chance like this. Thank you to your grandfather for his service, and thank you for making me think of Poppop tonight (oh I miss him so much!)

Timrobb · 09-30-2009, 05:30 AM

WOW - that is just super. You must be very PROUD!

Thanks for sharing - it made my morning~!!

soulmates · 09-30-2009, 07:53 AM

Mike, what a PROUD moment for you and your family. Thank you SO much for sharing this.

Disney Darling · 09-30-2009, 08:06 AM

Thank you so much for sharing this story!!

This is just awesome!! I'm so glad he was able to go.

zeitzeuge · 09-30-2009, 09:33 AM

I bet you are proud of him! Glad he got to experience this.

09-29-2009, 05:33 PM	#1
OrlandoMike all I can say is beer hurts when it comes out of your nose! I don't think we hijacked Halloween, we just do a better job at it! Mr. Mike, plain ole head Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 7,684	Can I brag a little? My 89 year old Grandfather, a veteran of World War 2, was recently awarded a trip to Washington DC as part of the Honor Flight program. The Honor Flight Program is a program set up to get as many WW2 vets to Washington to see the War memorial as they can, at little or no cost to them at all. My Mom went with him, and here is a little of what she had to say... The only description I can give of arriving at the WWII Memorial is over whelming. There had to be at least 1200 vets some with their medals on, some with WWII uniforms on, some with only their military hats on. While taking my Dad around to see everything we met so many local Baltimore/Washington, DC residents who just come over every Saturday to shake the vets hands and thank them for their service. One young man had WWII uniform on and was passing out "Kilroy was here" notes LOL. I absolutely in my wildest dreams would never think that so many people would take time out of their lives for a few hours each week to express their gratitude. There were also men who are currently serving the country who also made an effort to talk with the vets. Both Senator Dole and his wife Elizabeth come each and every Saturday to meet as many veterans as possible. Warned that Elizabeth is a hugger and to enjoy her, but to absolutely not try to shake hands with the Senator. Elizabeth came right up to my Dad and started telling us her brother was on the Saratoga so she has warm feelings for the Navy which my Dad was in. Here is a pic of my Grandfather and Elizabeth Dole! I am so proud of him!

09-29-2009, 05:39 PM	#2
Gypsybear Mouseketeer Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 191	Mike, that's AWESOME!! Thanks for sharing that story with us... __________________

09-29-2009, 05:43 PM	#3
wallyb Love My Stella-rella! Crocs are Crack for Feet! On ‘the list’ so treading carefully Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 8,948	WOW! That is Freaking awesome! __________________

09-29-2009, 07:02 PM	#6
APX Mouseketeer Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Southern California. Posts: 111	Very lucky to have a grandfather like that. I'm very jealous of you. __________________

09-29-2009, 07:14 PM	#7
avenueqpat Princess Fan! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 107	Very Cool! __________________ October 2009 - Solo to WDW ----- ASMu -January 10-16 2010 - Disney World - Me and Mom (Her First Trip Ever) - Someplace Value Past February 12, 2008 - First Trip to ANY Disney Park - Disneyland - Went with John, Undreia, Libby, Marc, Brooke, Mike, Jason, and Tommy----- April 8-11 2008 - First Trip to Disney World - SOLO TRIP - AllStarSports Resort-----January 10-14 2009 - Disney World - SOLO TRIP - AllStarMusic (Broadway Building!!!!!)

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09-29-2009, 06:00 PM	#4
OrlandoMike all I can say is beer hurts when it comes out of your nose! I don't think we hijacked Halloween, we just do a better job at it! Mr. Mike, plain ole head Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 7,684	More from Mom....I have to find out more about this organization! I'll send cash, or heck, I'll drive three vets up myself if I have to! http://www.honorflight.org/ Would like to tell you about the group from Rochester, NY. Fourteen months ago a gentleman brought his dad to the Memorial and was so impressed with the program, he went back home and started getting community support for this program. Their group filled up a commercial airplane; local residents were on hand at the airport before they left passing out their shirts (orange); when they return to Rochester their local TV stations will cover this and they will have a band playing at the airport plus active military people welcoming them home. That is what community support can do for this program! How I wish Florida could be that involved. Instead of eating at the Golden Coral as originally planned, our Saturday evening meal was a banquet with the Rochester group. I was walking through the lobby and a Rochester vet was sitting on the couch (resting I would assume) and I walked over to him and shook his hand, thanked him for his service and asked how he had enjoyed his trip. Those 80-something eyes looked up at me and to me his eyes looked like a little boy on Christmas morning and he said "I just can't believe what they have done for us, it's just amazing". I will never forget that man or the glowing look of happiness on his face. I was so impressed at the first class treatment we all received and as I said earlier all of this at absolutely no cost to the veteran as Jim McLaughlin the Chairman of Honor Flight says - they have already paid enough. We were given coupons for drinks in the bar, breakfast both Saturday and Sunday, a box lunch on Saturday and the banquet meal on Saturday evening. They run completely on donations. Hopefully I haven't bored you to tears with my trip report, but I was just so touched by this whole experience I wanted to share. More importantly, maybe you know someone else who would like to experience this also. I'm not the greatest photographer, but I have sent along some pictures and when the album comes up if you double click on the first picture, hopefully it will be a slide show.

09-29-2009, 07:21 PM	#8
DVC~OKW~96 I'm not big on gold as a color. As a metal...that's another story Spreading the word is an important thing! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: 20 Minutes North Posts: 5,270	O'Mike, that is incredible. I haven't heard about this before, the sending of Veterans to DC. Thank you for sharing the info with us, but more so thank you for sharing your Grandfather. If you find out any more about this group that runs on donations only, please tell us? I know I'd be very honored to send a donation. __________________ I look into the window of my mind Reflections of the fears I know I've left behind I step out of the ordinary I can feel my soul ascending I am on my way Can't stop me now And you can do the same What have you done today to make you feel proud? It's never too late to try What have you done today to make you feel proud? Heather Small

09-29-2009, 08:51 PM	#9
itsmuggsie I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it. Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Pinellas Park, (Tampa Bay) FL Posts: 106	That's awesome!!! What a great organization. I was up in DC end of April and the WWII memorial is very impressive.

09-29-2009, 09:06 PM	#10
rpmdfw I feel similarly about the cha-cha, electric slide, and mambo #5 Bridezilla, Groomzilla and Gayzilla all rolled into one Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ocoee, FL Posts: 6,305	Mike, that's awesome! Thanks for sharing it. __________________ Big Fat Gay Disney Wedding Thread

09-29-2009, 09:20 PM	#11
starann In having children, I have lost my mind, but found my soul Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Hellertown, PA Posts: 1,177	Mike, thanks so much for sharing this. My poppop died a few years ago, but I would have LOVED for his to have had a chance like this. Thank you to your grandfather for his service, and thank you for making me think of Poppop tonight (oh I miss him so much!) __________________ Star Momma to Christopher ^i^ 4-24-98 Cody 12-19-03 and Shane 2-23-05 http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2223534

09-30-2009, 05:30 AM	#12
Timrobb Mouseketeer Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: west islip, NY Posts: 263	WOW - that is just super. You must be very PROUD! Thanks for sharing - it made my morning~!! __________________ Till we chat again, Robb

09-30-2009, 07:53 AM	#13
soulmates THIS October and our rings will match!! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 1,448	Mike, what a PROUD moment for you and your family. Thank you SO much for sharing this. __________________

09-30-2009, 08:06 AM	#14
Disney Darling Mouseketeer Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 301	Thank you so much for sharing this story!! This is just awesome!! I'm so glad he was able to go.

09-30-2009, 09:33 AM	#15
zeitzeuge DallasDisneyDork Some people NEED to be bitten Had a little accident in my pants when I found out I was going to Club 33! Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 1,252	I bet you are proud of him! Glad he got to experience this. __________________ DL FEB 2008 Pics, DL JULY 2008 Pics, DL DEC 2008 Pics, DL SEPT 2009 Pics (Club33), DL Orton Effect Pics

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