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Thank You Tucson

11/23/2017

      We passed through Tucson on the way to
El Paso, but did not have the time to stop; nor
were we planning to do so on the way back to
Las Vegas. Fate, however, had other plans for
us. A slipping transmission had to be fixed
before we could safely continue. So, we left
our car with the AAMCO garage on Gulf Links
Rd. Chris, said he would do his best to get us
back on the road in three days.
      With that assurance, my wife and I checked
into the J.W. Marriott Resort and Spa to take
full advantage of our unscheduled vacation;
something we learned to do over a twenty-two
year USAF career—making lemonade out of
a lemon as someone once said.
      Those three days gave us the opportunity
to see the city, eat at some great restaurants,
shop, visit the Pima Air Museum, Davis-Monthan
Air Force Base, all while staying at one of the
best hotels in the country.
      But the fondest memory we will take away
from our visit is that of the people of Tucson.
Everywhere we went, our hotel, restaurants,
shops, museums…people greeted us like old
friends, opened doors for us, and thanked me
for my service.
      Ezdy and I are getting on in years (we’re 84).
After a lifetime of traveling around the world
and meeting so many wonderful people along
the way, we once again, find our lives enriched;
this time by the good people of Tucson.
      True to his word, Chris did get us on the road
in three days. We left that Friday, November 17,
2017, happy to be on our way home, yet thankful
we were forced to stay a little longer than planned.

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The Greatest Generation

11/3/2017

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      We entered the Southwest terminal of McCarran International Airport on
Sunday, October 29, 2017 to the stirring wail of Scottish bagpipes, a Flag
Honor Guard, and the non-stop applause and thanks of hundreds of people
of all ages and ethnic groups.
      It was a bit overwhelming to look into their faces, to see and feel the outpouring
of love and appreciation for something the veterans of WWII and Korea—had done
so many years ago. It was the perfect ending for our trip to Washington D.C.—one
sponsored by “Honor Flight of Southern Nevada.”
      Our journey began on October 27 with a warm send-off at the airport by the
USO and the other passengers waiting at the terminal gate, and it just kept getting
better.
      Upon our arrival in Baltimore we were unexpectedly greeted by a large crowd
of people who could not thank us enough for our service. One young man—no doubt,
himself a vet—stood at attention and saluted as we walked by. It was a humbling,
heart-rendering experience, one we would receive at almost every memorial we visited.
      Seeing the monuments was indeed a once in a lifetime opportunity, made possible
by the dedicated volunteers of “Honor Flight,” but it was more the good people we
met along the way that made our journey a truly memorable one. This was especially
true of the youngsters—Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, students from the local schools,
and those just there with their Moms and Dads—who lined up to shake our hands
and thank us for our service.
      I believe I speak for all the vets when I say, if we could go back and do it all over
again to insure they grow up in a free world, with minds unfettered by any form of
oppressive government, we would do so in a heartbeat. They are our future.
      A final note. Our group was comprised of twenty-seven veterans from two wars,
WWII and Korea. It was a special honor for me, as a Korean War Vet, to have made
this trip in the company of twenty-one of the finest men of “The Greatest Generation.”

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Thank You Tucson

The Greatest Generation

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