Honor Flight

Staff writer Andre Salles accompanied a group of Fox Valley veterans Wednesday on a flight to the World War II Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. In blog postings throughout the day, Salles provided up-to-the-minute insights into the memorable Honor Flight trip.

Here are some of his observations:

We're in the plane now, flying just above 10,000 feet.

We arrived at the airport at about 4:30 a.m., and were greeted by volunteers with signs, who spared no time in thanking our local vets for their service.

I saw one young soldier walk up to one of our veterans and say, "We wouldn't be here today if it weren't for you," and though he tried to hide it, the old vet's face showed a flash of pride for a second.

Only one veteran, Amos Nicholson of Aurora, showed up in his full uniform. He came decked out in medals, and completed the look with his original-issue hat. (The medals, as well as Nicholson's pacemaker, caused a brief flurry of concern at the security gate, but all was well within moments.) Many wondered how he could still fit into his old uniform, and Nicholson just laughed.

Our arrival into Dulles International Airport was something else.

First, the Honor Flight folks arranged for two fire trucks, one on either side of the plane, to give us a water cannon salute as we rolled into the gate. The reaction was wonderful. Seriously, an entire airplane full of 80- to 90-year-old men oohing and aahing, then erupting into spontaneous applause.

Then, as the veterans walked into the terminal, a crowd -- literally, a crowd -- of volunteers cheered for them, waved flags and thanked them for their service. The look of pride and gratitude on the faces of these veterans is something I won't forget any time soon.

The World War II Memorial is huge -- it takes up an enormous piece of the mall between the Lincoln and Washington memorials, and its centerpiece is a gorgeous fountain, water arcing into a shimmering pool. There are two stone arches, one on either side, representing the Atlantic and Pacific theaters, and 56 stone columns, one for each of the 50 states and six territories of the U.S.

It was a sight to see, even from a distance, and just amazing once you walk inside it.

After scaling the Lincoln Memorial, we joined the group at an outdoor café. We sat near a group of other vets, including Bernard Edelman of Lincolnshire, who started telling stories. Edelman was a prisoner of war for more than two years, shuttling back and forth between German POW camps before being liberated by the Russians, and his tales were fascinating.

I just sat back and listened to these wise men, who have seen more than I will ever see, and who love their country in ways so much deeper than I can begin to understand.

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