Traveling with the Stampers: September 2014

Several of the WWII veterans here at the Conservatory at Wells Branch had gone on honor flights to Washington, DC. They met with some of the WWII, Korean, and Vietnam veterans and gave them applications. Wayne filled out an application knowing that they were through with the flights until the fall. However, as things seem to happen, Wayne got a call that they were planning one more flight this summer and he had been selected to go on it.

One of the other gentlemen here, Al, was also selected to go. Al’s wife, Jeanne, and I drove them out to the airport. Here are Wayne and Al in their special shirts and caps waiting to go. They put all of the veterans in wheelchairs whether they needed one or not so that they could move at a consistent pace.

This was a small group with one Vietnam, Wayne, one Korean and the rest WWII veterans.

There was an honor guard and a bagpiper that led the way as they were paraded two by two to the plane. People stood along the walkway the whole way cheering the on. We even had special passes so that we could accompany them to the gate.

Here is the young retired officer who pushed Wayne’s wheelchair on the trip.

Wayne told me there must have been close to a thousand people at the airport in DC to greet them.

After checking into their hotel and eating dinner, they went to the Air Force Memorial.

They got to listen to the Air Force Band concert and they shook hands with lots of top brass.

It was dark when they left. This is the DC skyline at dusk.

The next day they got to go by all of the veterans’ memorials and met lots of top brass along the way. This is the building in front of the Tomb of the Unknown.

They had front row seats to the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown at Arlington Cemetery.

After the ceremony the two guards were changed out and the group got to go below and talk to them.

The Marine Corps War Memorial (also called the Iwo Jima Memorial) is a United States military monument outside the walls of Arlington National Cemetery. The memorial is dedicated to all personnel of the United States Marine Corps who have died in the defense of the United States since 1775.

On the way back to the DC area they drove by many of the other landmarks such as the Washington Monument below,

the Lincoln Memorial.

the National Cathedral,

and the White House.

This is the walkway to the Vietnam Memorial. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a national memorial in Washington, D.C. It honors U.S. service members of the U.S. armed forces who fought in the Vietnam War, the names of service members who died in service in are inscribed on the wall.

And here is Wayne in front of it.

The Three Soldiers is a bronze statue on the Washington, DC National Mall commemorating the Vietnam War. It was created and designed to complement the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, by adding a more traditional component to the Memorial.

The Vietnam Women's Memorial is a memorial dedicated to the women of the United States who served in the Vietnam War, most of whom were nurses. It serves as a reminder of the importance of women in the conflict.

Here is the group in front of the World War II Memorial where they watched the presentation of the colors by representatives from several different branches of the service.

The Korean War Veterans Memorial is located in Washington, D.C.'s West Potomac Park, southeast of the Lincoln Memorial and just south of the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall. It commemorates those who served in the Korean War. Wayne said it was very spooky.