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Local veteran makes inaugural flight to World War II Memorial
DELPHOS — In honor of the sacrifices made by veterans in past wars, several patriotic groups around the country solicit donations to fly veterans to war memorials in Washington, D.C. The organizations are known as “Honor Flight” and one local World War II veteran participated in the Northwest Ohio chapter’s first flight on April 30.
Rod Tiernan, 88, was one of nearly 30 World War II veterans who were taken to the World War II Memorial during the one-day trip. He says he had to submit paperwork and flew from Toledo after getting the call.
“There were 27 of us veterans, including two women and 26 guardians. The veterans went free but guardians had to spend $250 each. This was a one-day trip to the World War II Memorial; the ones who couldn’t walk far were pushed in wheel chairs by their guardians,” he said.
After an extended stay at the memorial with a dinner, the group also visited memorials to the Korean and Vietnam wars.
“Bob Dole came and we had our pictures taken with him, then we watched the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Marines march back and forth and the only thing you can hear is their shoes. Everyone is quiet and just watches, including the schoolchildren who were there. The children were very respectful to us and shook our hands. We received letters from them afterwards,” he said.
Tiernan said the women of the group visited a women’s memorial before rejoining the men to visit the United States Marine Corps War Memorial prior to leaving the city.
The United States Navy veteran served aboard the USS Semmes, a guided-missle destroyer that provided submarine escorts combating German U-boats in the Atlantic. He says visiting the memorial was a moving tribute to all veterans.
“It was war; you don’t know unless you felt it. This was a recognition. It was the most marvelous thing that ever happened to me in my life,” he said.
Honor Flight of Northwest Ohio is a 501(c)(3) organization affiliated with the Honor Flight Network™ formed in 2005. Since its inception, the Honor Flight Network™ has supported the trips of more than 5,000 veterans across the United States to our nation’s capital to visit the memorials with no out-of-pocket expense to the veterans. For information, visit honorflightnwo.org.
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