Wisconsin’s “Badger Honor Flight” Inaugural Flight

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On Saturday April 17, the Wisconsin State Journal sent me along with 97 World War II veterans on the Badger Honor Flight’s Inaugural Flight to Washington D.C. to visit the National World War II Memorial and other memorial sites.
Wisconsin’s Honor Flight was one of 14 different groups visiting the memorial from around the country. The day started with check-in at the Dane County Regional Airport at 4:30 a.m., and ended with a huge celebration with hundreds of friends and family when the charter with the veterans returned at 9:45 p.m.

The veterans had a busy day that included visits to Arlington National Cemetery and the Changing of the Guard Ceremony. Then, on to the Iwo Jima Memorial and the WWII Memorial where the veterans had plenty of time to take in the memorial built for them.

Other shorter trips to the Korean, Vietnam, and Lincoln Memorials closed out the day.

I don’t think I could say enough about the men and women veterans who traveled to Washington. I didn’t get a chance to talk to all of them, but I really felt honored to be traveling with them to see those beautiful monuments. This was the first trip for the Madison-based Badger Honor Flight, but it was very well organized and it looked like things went well.

Wisconsin State Journal Reporter Steve Verburg also went along on the trip and wrote a nice story for Sunday’s paper and website. Here is the web address for the story.

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/article_cbeb69de-4a2a-11df-af0e-001cc4c002e0.html

The website also includes a photo gallery of 31 photos that I sent back from the day’s events.

The photos included with this blog may be somewhat different than the ones I transmitted to the Wisconsin State Journal. The veterans were all wearing red jackets and it was sometimes hard to tell them apart. I also had to edit the photos while I watched the battery slowly drain from my Apple computer, so it was a quick edit. I would have been dead in the water if not for the nice people at a snack stand near the Vietnam Memorial who let me plug into their outside outlet. The wind blowing dust and what looked like dead cherry blossoms over my computer screen made for a bit of a challenge, but it doesn’t compare to the challenges these vets had 65 years ago.

Waiting in line to clear security at the Dane County Regional airport.

Waiting at Dulles International Airport to get off the plane.

Rodger Zimmerman looking out the window after the flight landing in Washington DC.

Rodger Zimmerman is greeted after debarking in Washington DC.

Delos Smith, Fennimore, is welcomed after debarking at Dulles International airport.

Annette Howards, Madison, left, and Connie Allard, right arrive at Dulles International Airport.

Mac McNally, Madison, as the tour bus drives past Arlington National Cemetery.

Dick Johnston, Sun Prairie, watching the Changing of the Guard Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

Watching the Changing of the Guard Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

Watching the Changing of the Guard Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

Robert Niemann, Madison, talking photos in Arlington National Cemetery.

Wisconsin Veterans visiting the Iwo Jima Memorial.

Donald Schultz walks into the World War II Memorial.

Roger Zimmerman, Reedsburg, and his daughter Dena Grinder, Reedsburg, walking around the WWII Memorial.

Different generations visit the WWII Memorial.

Members of the Badger Honor Flight pose for pictures while visiting the WWII Memorial.

Donald Schultz taking in the the World War II Memorial.

Melvin North, Janesville, left, and Jack Edgerly, Gotham take a break while visiting the WWII Memorial.

Robert Homan visiting the WWII Memorial.

Joe Huseth, Madison, boards the bus after visiting the WWII Memorial.

Waiting for the veterans to get off their buses on the return trip to Dulles International Airport.

Veterans getting off their buses on the return trip to Dulles International Airport

Connie Allord, Madison, reads a letter that was part of the Mail Call where friends and family sent along letters for the veterans to read on the return flight to Madison.

Pete Schultz Sun Prairie, right, reads a letter that was part of the Mail Call, where friends and family sent along letters for the veterans to read on the return flight to Madison.