Mrs. Dittbrenner Goes to Washington
BMS Staff Member on the WWII Honor Flight
submitted by Karen Dittbrenner
"We can't all be heroes. Some of us have to stand on the curb and clap as they go by."
~Will Rogers
This past week, I was given one of the greatest opportunities of my life. I was able to go along with approximately 700 WWII veterans to Washington D.C. to see the WWII Memorial and other worthy sights in DC. Seeing men and a few women who gave of their life get a chance to go look at something made to honor them was incredible. The entire place was "electric" as these veterans in varying degrees of health and wellness got off 20 some busses and headed down the sidewalk to get a few minutes to enjoy the sites.
This trip is a whirlwind trip for them. They begin the process at 3:20 a.m. and arrive back home after 10 p.m.. The main goal is to get them to the WWII Memorial but then also to go to other places such as the Korean Memorial, Iwo Jima and Arlington Cemetery. Senators Bob Dole, Ben Nelson and Mike Johanns, as well as Congressman Jeff Fortenberry and Sam Donaldson came to greet the veterans and spent time thanking them for their service to our country. They are also taken on a bus tour around the city to see other famous sites before heading back to the airport to fly home.
Seeing the looks on their faces and hearing the buzz of chatter
while also hearing some softly cry in remembrance of some of their
buddies was a memory that will not ever be forgotten. For many this
is a completion of what they started so many years ago. It is a
closing on this chapter of their life that for some was a long time
coming.
After the WWII Vets departed we stayed through the weekend and took in more sites. The highlight of this was a visit to Walter Reed Army Medical Center where we were able to visit with 3 men who were injured in Iraq and staying there to get healed and begin rehab.
Editor's Note: Mrs. Dittbrenner teaches 6th grade math for the Northern Stars. We would like to thank her for sharing this story and all of the wonderful pictures.
For more information about the Honor Flight, click here!
