Low Country Honor Flight to Washington DC
 

After getting up at 3:45 and setting the cat up with water and food to last the day, I arrived at Charleston, SC airport an hour later and left my car with a Low Country Honor Flight volunteer who would park it for me. Once inside I checked in at my designated table and awaited for the arrival of my Guardian for the day, the rest of the WWII and Korea War Veterans, and the other volunteers, doctors and nurses who would fill the plane for this special trip to our nation's capital. That accomplished, and after a snack of donuts and coffee, we boarded the plane for a 7:00 o'clock departure.

When we departed the gate, two fire trucks, one on each side, turned their nozzles skyward and shot steams of water into the air forming an arch of honor for us to pass under. This honor was repeated when we arrived at DCA and again when we left in the evening and also during our arrival back at CHS..

As we approached DCA, the pilot announced that we were now over the Potomac River , would shortly be able to see the beltway, and would land from that approach. A short time later the pilot announced that there would be a delay in landing as air traffic control had given permission for the plane to circle the city at 3000 feet so we could view the city from the air. Later, to our amazement, when we entered the airport we were greeted by a playing band and a large crowd of people who began to cheer, clap, and shake our hands.

Our first stop was the beautiful WWII Memorial and the three buses were escorted there by many members of the Nam Bikers. As soon as we were off the bus many well wishers greeted us with signs, hand shakes, and again words of thanks. Then, as we approached the entry we could hear Anchors Aweigh being sung, as it turned out, by Navy 1st class petty officers who were inductees on the verge of promotion to Chief Petty Officers. There were close to a hundred of them lined up on each side of the walkway making the stop even more emotional. This memorial is so well done it has to be a must visit for anyone going to DC. While there we met other Honor Flight groups from NC, PA, and as far away as CA.

We also visited the Korean and Viet Nam War Memorials, and the FDR, Lincoln, and Iwo Jima memorials before our stay was over. Once back at DCA and waiting for our 5;30 flight home, we were entertained by ladies of the USO who performed several song and dance numbers for us.

I don't think any of us were prepared for what greeted us as we walked through the Charleston Airport. Hundreds and hundreds of people made up of families, students, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, military organizations, several bands, bag pipers and more shouted, cheered, hugged us, and shook our hands all along the way. All in all, it was a very emotional day, one where at times it was difficult to keep one's eyes dry, and one that I shall always cherish.

My best friend's dad went on the Honor Flight a few months ago leaving from Nashville TN. His report of his trip was almost exactly like yours-he had a great time-unforgettable-he said. Thanks for your report and your service to our country.

Ronkala, if you were doing this yesterday, I was there at the same time and I may have shaken your hand and said, "Thank you for your service." I'd like to think I thanked you!!

With a grateful heart,

Lynette

Ronkala, I'm glad your trip back "to the north" was such a success. All of you deserved the applause. Thank you for your service.

What a fabulous day!

Thank you for your service . . . My big regret is my Dad (a liberation of Paris and Battle of the Bulge veteran) passed away in 2006 before he could take his honor flight.

Ah Birdie, it was so good walking on Virginia soil again.

What a great day! I am glad it went so well for you and everybody else. Thank you for your service.

Wow, what a beautiful day, Ron! Thanks for sharing it with us. This is something my dear Dad would have loved, but he passed away long ago. I'm glad you got to go and feel the love because you deserve it!

And. I, too, add my sincere thanks for your service.

A salute to your service, sir.

Good to hear it was a such a successful trip with so many appreciative onlookers. Was it yesterday? Quite a hot one! You all must have been chugging the water.

It was hot, in the mid 90s but no different from what we've had in Charleston in August. I would think we were more active than usual though with all the walking we did.

Lynni, we were there from about 9:45 to a little after 11:00.

Glad it was such a great trip! Thank you for your service.

Thanks so much for your service and the trip report. I'd love to have my dad do an honor flight, but it would be too much for him now.

Lee Ann

lee Ann,
If your dad is able to travel at all, and you could not make the trip with him, Honor Flight provides a guardian to look after the travelers. If one is wheelchair bound, a guardian is responsible for that one person, otherwise they look after two. One of our three buses had a lift at the back to get those confined to wheelchairs up into the bus. All who needed wheelchairs sat in the first class seats on our chartered U.S. Air flight.

If you flew Southwest, I might have video of you! My cousin was a greeter/volunteer at DCA. I'm pleased for all our vets who get to do this.

Thank you sf, but it was a US Air charter flight. We had a young woman with us doing a documentary that will be shown Thursday evening at 7:00, but I don't know if it will be local or national.

I'd be happy to go with him, but I don't think he would want to try it. It sounds like they provide plenty of care for those who need it, though, so I think I'll look into it.

Lee Ann

Those confined to wheel chairs sat in first class. The reporter was with NBC.

>it was difficult to keep one's eyes dry<

It's next to impossible to keep one's eyes dry just reading this trip report.

When I was in DC in May, there was a group of about 15 WWII vets in wheelchairs the Tomb of the Unknown. It was humbling.

I posted many photos of the trip on my FB page. Anyone wanting to see them who is on FB should be able to. Search Ron Keeler. There are many with the same name but my photo is the same as the one above.

I looked at your FB pictures, ronkala. What a wonderful experience. Thank you so much for sharing.

Thank you Sir. We did many of those flights from Daytona Beach airport and they were an honor. I love the welcome home and my husband was happy the Chief selectees sang to you. It is a beautiful memorial.

What a wonderful day. My lake friend went last year and said it was a fabulous experience. I wish my dad would go. Thanks for the great pictures, and thank you for your service.

Thank you for your service.

I had considered going to the WWII Memorial on that day to greet the Honor Flights but didn’t do so. I have been to DCA a few times to greet the Veterans exiting through the gate and always enjoyed that. I went to the “Super Saturday” greeting the following Saturday (September 20). There was supposed to be one around 11:00 a.m., another at 11:30, and a third one at 12:30. The flights must have been delayed or something because no busses arrived until after 12 and then two flights arrived at once. Unfortunately, the one had to park over at the side and were not greeted in the area you were. There also weren’t many people there like on your Saturday. I think if I heard a bunch of sailors singing Anchors Away, I’d have to walk away because that song chokes me up.

Anyway, in one of your blurry Facebook photos taken at the airport there is a Vietnam Veteran with long hair, sunglasses and a beard (one of the bikers). I know him from the Operation Welcome Home Maryland events at BWI airport. He is a very nice guy and who attends many events like this. He is really dedicated to our Veterans and enlisted military.

p.s. My profile photo is of an Honor Flight water salute.

I just looked at your profile photo, very nice.
When I got up near the inductees while they were singing Anchors Aweigh, I moved in a little closer, stood at attention, and just let my emotions flow over me. And I felt proud.

When we returned to Norfolk in '53 and the tugs and fire boats were sending up streams of water, and Miss Virginia came aboard our destroyer, and the band on the C&E piers was playing, and a mob of friends and family were there to greet us, that was exciting. But it couldn't compare with the overwhelming and emotional experience we shared on the Honor Flight.

Topping an old thread. Many thanks to Ron for this post. I tried hard to get my Dad to go on an Honor Flight and he finally planned to, but unfortunately died the month before the trip.

Ron was a FB friend and today's memories brought up a post by him. Just thinking of him and thankful we "met" via the Fodors community.

I encourage all who have veterans in their family to consider the Honor Flight experience.
https://www.honorflight.org/

So happy you had a memorable Honor Flight. My dad (a WWII and Korean War vet) took his two years before he passed at age 93. He said it was the most memorable trip of his lifetime. He is now buried at Arlington National Cemetery. His burial was the most meaning service I have ever attended.

Thank you so much for your service.

Ron is gone.
I found his obit tonight -
https://obituaries.neptunesociety.co...eeler-11530284
His family moved him from FL to GA last year.
I admired him so much. RIP to a dear Fodorite, and thank you for your service. ((W))

Thanks for this, starrs. Rest in Peace, Ron.