By Jomay Steen, Journal staff | Friday, August 28, 2009
Leo Thovson of Rapid City could not make today's (Aug. 28) Honor Flight; his family took him to his final resting place on Thursday. Yet, they carefully and gently presented his service flag Thursday evening to the organizers of today's trip for World War II veterans to Washington, D.C.
Wrapped in cellophane with a wallet-sized photograph of Thovson in dress uniform, the flag will be placed at the World War II National Memorial and photographed for the family.
"My dad and I were supposed to be on that flight," his son told the roomful of veterans at American Legion Post 22, a poignant reminder of the thousand World War II veterans who die daily.
At a two-hour pre-flight session, Rapid City Regional Airport executive director Cameron Humphres, Bob Baker and Mark Heisey of the Transportation Security Administration, and Rick Tupper and Larry Rohrer of Honor Flight also talked about the two-day tour that begins today.
More than 113 men and women, most of them in their mid- and late 80s, and 49 support staff that includes two doctors and a half-dozen nurses, will fly from Rapid City to Washington and back within a little more than 40 hours, requiring something akin to D-Day.
Yet, Honor Flight plans to do just that.
"I'm anxious in a way," Gordon Dau of Rapid City said of the journey. He served in several military branches, including the Navy from 1943 to 1945.
"I've never been to any memorials. I'm doing something my kids have already done," he said.
Bill Stone, also of Rapid City, was a little nervous about his trip, too.
"I don't know where I'm going to get the energy to do all this," he said.
The 86-year-old veteran served in the Navy in the Pacific. "It was a good deal like living on the prairie. It wasn't too much different," Stone said of the ocean.
John Fuller could only laugh when asked about being at the airport at 5 a.m.
"When your number comes up, you're drafted," he said of the trip.
John Mellor of Broadus, Mont., served on a PT boat during the war.
"My doctor from Fort Meade got me in on this," he said.
"This is a very generous thing for people to do for us," Mellor said of the free trip. "It's just wonderful."
They will travel light, without checked baggage. Each received a carry-on bag for their essentials, two quart-sized sealable plastic bags for their medications, snacks and personal items, and matching caps and T-shirts to help the volunteers keep track of them.
With expected temperatures in the upper 80s and high humidity, they were told to dress comfortably. But with a hurricane possibly hitting the East Coast Saturday, organizers packed rain ponchos for everyone. They're also taking 50 wheelchairs in case people need them.
Tupper told the group to leave behind their shampoo, soap (the hotel has them) and pocketknives.
Those folks with pacemakers? Bring them along, Tupper said.
There were questions about nebulizers, sleep machines, new artificial knees and hips and metal rods and plates.
"You can walk around the metal detector, but security will do a pat down," he said.
Cameras and cellphones were OK.
"Don't take your computer," Tupper said. "It's a vacation."
It begins with a 5:545 a.m. send-off ceremony with remarks by state officials.
While planning for the trip nearly a year ago, organizers thought they would send four flights of South Dakota veterans to Washington. As it stands, Honor Flight will do seven flights.
But Mayor Alan Hanks noted that the men and women sitting in Post 22 helped change the lives of people around the world.
"Talking with you, it is amazing the sacrifice that you went through. This is our chance to honor you," he said.
Leo Thovson of Rapid City could not make today's (Aug. 28) Honor Flight; his family took him to his final resting place on Thursday. Yet, they carefully and gently presented his service flag Thursday evening to the organizers of today's trip for World War II veterans to Washington, D.C.
Wrapped in cellophane with a wallet-sized photograph of Thovson in dress uniform, the flag will be placed at the World War II National Memorial and photographed for the family.
"My dad and I were supposed to be on that flight," his son told the roomful of veterans at American Legion Post 22, a poignant reminder of the thousand World War II veterans who die daily.
At a two-hour pre-flight session, Rapid City Regional Airport executive director Cameron Humphres, Bob Baker and Mark Heisey of the Transportation Security Administration, and Rick Tupper and Larry Rohrer of Honor Flight also talked about the two-day tour that begins today.
More than 113 men and women, most of them in their mid- and late 80s, and 49 support staff that includes two doctors and a half-dozen nurses, will fly from Rapid City to Washington and back within a little more than 40 hours, requiring something akin to D-Day.
Yet, Honor Flight plans to do just that.
"I'm anxious in a way," Gordon Dau of Rapid City said of the journey. He served in several military branches, including the Navy from 1943 to 1945.
"I've never been to any memorials. I'm doing something my kids have already done," he said.
Bill Stone, also of Rapid City, was a little nervous about his trip, too.
"I don't know where I'm going to get the energy to do all this," he said.
The 86-year-old veteran served in the Navy in the Pacific. "It was a good deal like living on the prairie. It wasn't too much different," Stone said of the ocean.
John Fuller could only laugh when asked about being at the airport at 5 a.m.
"When your number comes up, you're drafted," he said of the trip.
John Mellor of Broadus, Mont., served on a PT boat during the war.
"My doctor from Fort Meade got me in on this," he said.
"This is a very generous thing for people to do for us," Mellor said of the free trip. "It's just wonderful."
They will travel light, without checked baggage. Each received a carry-on bag for their essentials, two quart-sized sealable plastic bags for their medications, snacks and personal items, and matching caps and T-shirts to help the volunteers keep track of them.
With expected temperatures in the upper 80s and high humidity, they were told to dress comfortably. But with a hurricane possibly hitting the East Coast Saturday, organizers packed rain ponchos for everyone. They're also taking 50 wheelchairs in case people need them.
Tupper told the group to leave behind their shampoo, soap (the hotel has them) and pocketknives.
Those folks with pacemakers? Bring them along, Tupper said.
There were questions about nebulizers, sleep machines, new artificial knees and hips and metal rods and plates.
"You can walk around the metal detector, but security will do a pat down," he said.
Cameras and cellphones were OK.
"Don't take your computer," Tupper said. "It's a vacation."
It begins with a 5:545 a.m. send-off ceremony with remarks by state officials.
While planning for the trip nearly a year ago, organizers thought they would send four flights of South Dakota veterans to Washington. As it stands, Honor Flight will do seven flights.
But Mayor Alan Hanks noted that the men and women sitting in Post 22 helped change the lives of people around the world.
"Talking with you, it is amazing the sacrifice that you went through. This is our chance to honor you," he said.