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The Greatest Generation

September 23, 2009 12:05 by admin

It was 9:30 Tuesday evening, September 23, 2009. I was blessed to be among nearly 1,400 patriots who gathered in our local airport in Columbus, Georgia, to welcome home some of our World War II Veterans. West Georgia Honor Flight chartered a commercial aircraft and flew 100 of our local WWII Veterans to our nation's capital to visit, among other things, the National World War II Memorial built in their honor.

I arrived expecting the crowd to be small. Sure there had been a great article in the local paper about the event and when these heroes would return home. But it was 9:30 on a Tuesday evening ... most people would just stay home. Wow! I was wrong! There were hundreds of people packed into the little airport, flags waiving, banners in the air, waiting patiently to welcome our heroes home! A high school band was playing, a local JROTC unit was in full uniform, and every news outlet in town had representation on the scene.

Pride welled up inside me as I stood shoulder to shoulder with complete strangers waiting for a chance to clap and say "welcome home!". There were no young folks, no old folks ... no black people or white people. There were no democrats, republicans, or independent parties. There were just Americans. Proud Americans!

Their journey had begun at 8:00 that morning and for some would last another hour or so as they were bussed home. That would have been a long day for even the youngest of us to endure. But as those members of "The Greatest Generation" made their way through the packed airport terminal, they were young again; their faces beaming, eyes glowing, and smiles from ear to ear. And our heroes received a proper welcome home. I've never been more proud of my hometown, Columbus, Georgia. I over heard one veteran say, "this is a better reception than we got after the war."

Well Sir ... it was our pleasure ... no, our honor!

And to the supporters from Columbus, Georgia and the surrounding areas who showed up in droves ... Thank You ...!!! Thank you for continuing to support our Heroes! This will be a memory not soon forgotten by these great heroes ... and one I will share for years to come.