Welcome to the Vietnam Era of Honor Flight Chicago.
Our 91st flight left Midway Airport on June 5 carrying three WWII, 14 Korean War and 83 Vietnam War veterans. The average age of the 100 veterans on board the plane was 76-years-old. Compare that to our April and May flights when the average age for each was 87.
These younger veterans brought with them their own changes to what a “typical” Honor Flight Chicago Day of Honor has become. Boarding and deplaning have perhaps never been faster. The demand for wheelchairs — and the demands to NOT use a wheelchair — fell and rose, respectively.
One thing that did not change: Our volunteers rolled with the adjustments and provided the same levels of personal care and respect that have become the hallmark of the Honor Flight Chicago experience.
We paid special attention on this trip to our veterans at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. Members of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund graciously volunteered to “staff up” and greet our heroes, helping them find names and make rubbings.
The visit was obviously impactful. One of our veterans, sobbing, kept saying to his guardian that he felt like “bricks had been lifted off my shoulders.” Another quietly pointed to a name on the Wall with an American flag, returned to his wheelchair to speak about that person, left the flag at the Wall and moved on to a different name to repeat the process. Yet another veteran stood inches from the Wall, willing himself to touch it. A piece of paper could barely pass through the gap this veteran left between himself and the black granite. Finally, both hands shot up and pressed against the names. He held them there, head bowed, in a deeply personal moment.
These stories are not unique in our history. Our World War II veterans have had similar interactions with the stars at the Freedom Wall, and our Korean War veterans with the faces etched at their Memorial. What is unique, however, is the context. As they find the names of those they lost on the Wall, our Vietnam veterans bring with them their memories of being ignored, ridiculed and abused for wearing the uniform of their country. We saw firsthand how their time at the Wall can help address those feelings.
All three generations of war heroes on board the same flight understood. World War II Veteran George Cridland told ABC7 reporter Mark Rivera: “This trip is just a wonderful idea. Particularly for Vietnam. Those guys never got the credit they deserved. Wars are wars, and they were in one.”
Moving forward, the majority of veterans on board each of our flights likely will be from the Vietnam Era. It is our honor to be able to welcome them home alongside our WWII and Korean War heroes.
Thank you for being a part of our continued mission!
Edna Ho and Doug Meffley
Directors, Honor Flight Chicago
“Yesterday was among the best days of my life. I have PTSD in reverse. Instead of being overwhelmed by bad thoughts, I’m overwhelmed with good ones. I just can’t get out of my head the attention to detail. Somebody passed out ice cream during the Silent Drill Platoon performance and it was great, but then my hands were all sticky. Lo and behold, here comes someone down the line handing out wipes. I don’t want to belabor the point, so I’ll just say thank you.”
— Joe Stupec
“This trip is just a wonderful idea. Particularly for Vietnam. Those guys never got the credit they deserved. Wars are wars, and they were in one.”
— George Cridland
“Excellente! What a day. There wasn’t a thing I could improve. I loved the water cannon salute. My biggest surprise was my family at the Welcome Home. You guys sure know how to keep a secret!”
— Miguel Camacho
“Every time I thought things were great they got better! By the time we got off the plane in Chicago and saw all those sailors and other people, I was in tears. The day couldn’t have been better!”
— Bill Collins
“I am still reeling! Start to finish was my favorite part. When I left Vietnam, we were told not to wear our uniforms, not to have our dogtags hanging out. If anyone asked where we got the suntan we were told to say we had been in Florida. We didn’t apply for military discounts on airplanes because we would have had to wear our uniforms to fly. I was shot at two times in the United States while I was wearing my uniform. This day was right up there with the day I got married and the days my kids were born!”
— Don Smith
“From start to finish, the day was like a well-oiled machine! It was such an honor to be on the inaugural flight for Vietnam vets, how was I so lucky? On June 13, 1986, the City of Chicago had the first parade specifically for Vietnam vets and this was like that times one thousand! Every man or woman who was in service played a part, whether they were in country or not and when they came home they were alone. It wasn’t like WWII where the servicemen could say we won the war! All we wanted was someone to say thank you, and on Wednesday thousands of people said that thank you. They had to carry my Mail Call envelope with two hands it was so heavy. I wear my original dog tags on veteran holidays and now I will wear two sets! I can’t say thank you enough!!”
— Bob Bruzek
“Outstanding day! Was totally impressed with the Wall. I was able to find the names of five platoon brothers there. Thanks so much for inviting me, it was a day I will never forget.”
— Stanley Olenjack
“I’m still on a high! Everything was so smooth, I couldn’t improve on anything. Didn’t expect anything at Dulles, and the crowds were overwhelming! The guardians were so very helpful, everything was perfect! To visit the Wall was an outstanding experience.”
— Werner Baeckelandt
