Another trip is in the books...

I know I have been in one of those non-productive writing slumps lately.  Sorry.

Let me fill you in on our latest "Veterans to DC" Trip which was held May 20-22.  What a great time we had...all 101 of us.  There were 8 WWII Vets and 34 Korean War Vets on this our 5th Trip.  It seems hard to believe we have done this 5 times already and at this writing are deeply into planning and preparing for Trip #6.

There were a couple of "glitches" in this one.  We usually have the Saturday lunch on the Potomac River at the park just beyond the Jefferson Memorial.  Well, there had been several days of rain (you remember this spring don't you?) and the tide was in  while we were there so the park was closed due to flooded grounds.  Well we had to find another place for lunch.  Fortunately the bus driver (Larry) and I were both quite familiar with Washington so we quickly decided on the Mall area.  We first tried to set up our lunch tables at the Sculpture Park and got run out of there by some local security guys.  So we set up on the sidewalk and the Vets and their caregivers ate in the garden area between there and the Museum of Natural History.  They were real champs -- we didn't hear any whining or complaining.  They saw it as an adventure.  Maybe some of the school groups that passed by could have learned ANOTHER lesson from these heroes.

We also had one lady get sick.  She was suffering from a sinus infection and she thinks the heat just got to her.  We took her back to the hotel and she got a nap and felt much better.

My favorite parts are the ceremonies and visits at the two Memorials -- the Korean War Veterans Memorial and the WWII Memorial.  They guys do a great job there during the ceremonies...placing the wreaths and saluting their flag and their comrades durint the playing of Taps.

 

I had the opportunity to get a picture with some of the WWII guys.

  

This was quite an honor and I was really glad to be able to share some stories with them, listen to them beam about their service and watch them soak in all the honor that was shown to them.  But, just like all the other Vets on all the other trips, whether WWII or Korean War, they continuously said they didn't do anything ... they just did their job and came home.


Well, this certainly was a good time.  I am so glad we have such terrific volunteers on the trips.  They make everything go so smoothly.  There is something about 21 different people, from different walks of life coming together to be able to show so much respect to these heroes.  That's the reason I keep doing it -- most of these people wouldn't get a second glance from most people passing them in Wal-Mart or Krogers.  Just another "Old man" or "Old woman."  But for this one weekend, they are royalty.  Everything that isn't important in life is set aside for 72 hours so these people are treated well and shown respect and honor.  At the dinner on Tuesday before the trip, they were just 101 strangers, not sure what to expect from each other, not sure if this is really what they wanted to do.  On Sunday night when we got back, they were chattering together like they had known each other for their whole lives.

I hope we will have as much good fortune on Trip #6.  I know we will discover some interesting things.

Old men's eyes are like old men's memories; they are strongest for things a long way off.   
(GEORGE ELIOT, Romola)

Hooah