Latest Ozarks Honor Flight creates multitude of memories for WWII veterans on board

April 13, 2011|by Steve Grant, KY3 News | sgrant@ky3.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The nation's capital is an ever evolving who's who of elected officials, political celebrities, and power brokers. World War II veterans on Ozarks Honor Flight on Tuesday got to see some real star power: retired U.S. Senator Bob Dole

“If Bob Dole could have a cot there, a bed, he would be here 24-7,” said Steve Galloway, a volunteer with the National Park Service at the World War II Memorial.

Dole has become the nation's saluter-in-chief of fellow World War II veterans.

“Without Senator Dole, this would never have been built,” said Galloway.

It was Dole’s 157th or 187th visit to the Memorial for the same reason the other veterans were there.

“I go for the great people you meet, the stories you near, the tears we shed,” said Dole.

He gave all who wanted one a Kodak moment, and expressed personal gratitude to their supporters – the escorts on Ozarks Honor Flight.

In the midst of all this, the veterans met a Lebanon High School civics class that was touring Washington. The class also writes letters to Ozarks Honor Flight veterans. Student Taylor Morris was wowed.

“We're the only class that has ever done this.”

James Ford is their history teacher.

“After seeing all of this, do you think they get it?” a reporter asked Ford.

"I think so!” he said.

The lesson here is that the Americanism was not automatic. We did not it all ourselves.

"We were willing to pass on the baton to the next generation."

The next Ozarks Honor Flights are May 25 and June 14.

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