Like I said, it's not about y blocks and I hope no one gets upset, but I couldn't help myself, I had to put the info out there.

I am involved with an organization called Honor Flight and their goal is to take WW II, any terminally ill vet, and Korean War vet back to Washington D.C. to see "their" memorial. Most of the WW II vets are in their 80's and are passing at a rate of 1200 per day.  I have been fortunate enough to be selected as an Honor Flight Guardian which means I get to travel back to DC (at my expense) and care for two or three of these old warriors during their daylong trip.  My three vets are each 85 years of age and as part of the process we meet with them beforehand and get acquainted. This trip is absolutely FREE for the vet, they can't pay for a thing:meals, charter bus, plane tickets,gum anything. Eligible are soldiers, marines, sailors, army air corp, merchant marine, nurses.  It is a way of saying "Thanks for their service" and you wouldn't believe the resonse from these old gentlemen.  Their gratitude is absolutely humbling, they are so touched and grateful.  One of my vets was a tanker with Patton's Third Army and his health does not allow him to make the next trip for which he was scheduled.  He was so distraught about not going and fearful about being taken off the list for one of the upcoming trips I got misty eyed. 

Honor Flight takes vets with disabilities and all kinds of medical conditions, wheelchairs, oxygen, canes, walkers, etc. they make all kinds of accomodations.  There is a "mail call" for the vets as well as a "Welcome Home" celebration.

My purpose: get on the internet, go to Honor Flight (there's an outfit calling themselves Honorflight that charges  the vets, that's the wrong one)and registar any relative or friend that is a WW II, Korean War, or terminally ill vet (Vietnam, Gulf War etc they get preference) for the trip of their life before they're gone. Thanks for your patience.

Missouri Mike

http://www.honorflight.org/about/

As far as that honor flight goes - awesome!

We have a B17 belly turret gunner in our church - I brought him out to our academy to speak to our teenagers about a month ago - you talk about a moving experience. Our young people sat spellbound - we literally ran out of time listening to him, viewing his artifacts (still has his original flight jacket and silk "map" scarf), and hearing of stories of sacrifice "over there". God bless him and all that have served, and are serving, our country.

What a great job you're doing .It's a pity you have to pay out of your own pocket .To all you Vets around the world ,Thank you .Weather you agree with war or not ,these Vets fought for the freedom we enjoy today .Soldiers do what their Governments tell them to do .It's about time we started to look after our Vets .We can never thank them enough .

Lon

Ever hear of a place called Shemya?  Spent a little time my self in ASA.  05H.

Butch Lawson

Manchester, TN

I hear there is still only one tree there! Never got up there but sounded like a real pit! I was a 058 (Hog) 05H also. .- ... .-  .-.. .. ...- . ...! Chuck in NH

PS. I once worked for the Extradition Corporation of America out of the old jail in Manchester, TN. I now live in Manchester, NH. Small World!

Never did find the tree.  Who was sheriff at the old jail.  Bobby McCullough?

(edit)  Oops.  You folks were in there after the new jail was built, right?

Butch

You can EMAIL me at chuck3eagles@comcast.net

Probably be better to continue off forum! Never know who is listening!

TC

Payin' ain't a problem, cause it's such a privilege to make the trip.

Missouri Mike