Michigan Vets On One Last Mission

The World War II Memorial on the National Mall opened to the public in 2004. Since then, thousands of veterans have visited on Honor Guard flights. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

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Honor Flights – the all-out effort to fly as many as possible of the nation’s veterans to Washington, DC, to visit memorials honoring their service – are known to be emotional affairs.

Saturday’s trip to the nation’s capital was doubly so for Al Crowley, an 88-year-old World War II veteran from Plymouth, and his daughter, Tricia Crowley, 53, of Falls Church, VA.

She planned to surprise her dad at Reagan National Airport, but lost her composure when she saw him and 78 other World War II and Korean War veterans in the terminal.

“It was a very prideful moment seeing everyone come off the plane,” she said. “I feel pride and love and a lot of thanks that he was able to do this.”

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• Have you visited the memorials at the National Mall? What emotions did you experience?

Al Crowley said he hoped to catch up with his daughter later in the day, but didn’t expect hers to be one of the first faces he saw after stepping off the plane that that left Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport early Saturday morning on a Talons Out Honor Flight.

“Unbelievable,” he said. “I just couldn’t believe it. I was hoping to see her later on at one our stops but I never dreamt to see her at the airport.”

Veterans on a dozen honor flights were in Washington, DC, Saturday to visit war memorials. A group of volunteers ensure each veteran receives a hero’s welcomes at Reagan National Airport. About 100 Honor Flights land at the airport each year.

“Oh my goodness, it’s been amazing – the greetings we get everywhere, everybody says thank you, and the reception we got out of the plane was great,” World War II Navy veteran Leonard Lampton told WWTV/WWUP-TV after he and 61 other Northern Michigan vets made a trip Wednesday organized by the Mid-Michigan Honor Flight.

“Even little school kids gave us leis and a cookie, it was great,” he said.

Somber reflection follows the jubilant welcomes.

Leonard said he was struck by the some 400,000 stars on the wall, one for each U.S. casualty in World War II.

“You thank your lucky stars you made it,” he said. “Really lucky.”

Fred Baker, who served with the Army Air Corps during World War II, swelled with pride as reflected on the men and women for whom the memorial was erected.

“I’m proud of all of them. they deserve a lot of credit,” he said. “Having been there and relived it. see we’re reliving it today. It’s neat and you can’t do that very often.”

Leonard agreed.

“This is a great big deal,” he said. “Something we’ll remember for the rest of our days. Everybody that’s here will.”