Land of the Free & Home of the Brave

As the weather and the seasons change, I (and many others!) begin to look forward to upcoming holidays like Halloween (candy and costumes!), Thanksgiving (turkey and football!) and Christmas (carols and egg nog!) but let’s not forget in midst of all that a very important day for us to recognize is Veterans Day.

Originally called Armistice Day, Veteran’s Day has been a day of universal recognition since the end of World War I. The first celebration to use its current term took place in Birmingham, Alabama in 1947. Raymond Weeks, a World War II veteran, organized "National Veterans Day," which included a parade and other festivities, to honor all veterans. The event was held on November 11, then designated Armistice Day. Later, U.S. Representative Edward Rees of Kansas proposed a bill that would change Armistice Day to Veterans Day. In 1954, Congress passed the bill that President Eisenhower signed proclaiming November 11 as Veterans Day.

Of the wars in recent memory, it was World War II that threatened our existence as a culturally diverse and free society. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, an estimated 640 WWII veterans die each day. The Honor Flight Network, a non-profit organization, works to express our thanks to these brave men and women before our opportunities runs out.

Several Meadowlark Hills residents have participated in the Honor Flight program in recent years. The organization transports our nation’s heroes to Washington D.C. to visit and reflect at their memorials.

A couple weeks ago MLH resident, Bob Robinson was given the opportunity to participate in Honor Flight. He and his daughter, Cindy Bryant, flew from Wichita, Kan. to Washington D.C. on the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 7. When the group arrived, they walked off the plane to cheers from the crowd. “I felt very honored and thrilled. It was a special moment for me,” Bob said.

Bob shook hands with a few people in the crowd, and then noticed his son, Paul Robinson, was there. Paul  traveled from Texas to surprise Bob and spend the trip with his dad and sister! Bob was amazed and very happy to have his son join them. While on the trip, the group saw Fort McHenry (where Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner), the WWII Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam War Memorial. They also had the opportunity to see the Air Force Memorial and Arlington Cemetery where they watched the changing of the guard.

Congratulations to Bob for being selected to participate in such a wonderful program. Remember to thank the veterans in your life for their service to our country as Veterans Day approaches.

See you next week and thanks for stopping by!