Thursday, September 29, 2016

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Tonight's picture was taken in September of 2003. I will never forget computer time with Mattie. Peter snapped a photo of us..... Mattie sitting on my lap and navigating the computer together. This was not an unusual occurrence. We played many child friendly games on-line through the PBS and Noggin websites. Mattie loved it and some of the links led to songs! I will never forget the theme song to the show... Jay Jay the Jet Plane. Mattie loved when I sang it and bounced along to the tune. Here is what it sounded like..............  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrP3_LenwUQ


Quote of the day: It is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not deserve them. ~ Mark Twain

Today Peter and I flew out of Reagan National Airport in DC to Indianapolis for a conference. As soon as we walked through security at Reagan, I could hear live music. It was disorienting at first, because you aren't expecting a band in the middle of the airport! But as I was observing what was going on, I quickly deduced an honor flight was coming in. I am not sure I would have known what that was, but my friend Heidi was telling me about these flights earlier in the week. She also mentioned that you can volunteer with Honor Flight! It is worth looking into because it was a very patriotic and amazing experience. 

If the music doesn't get you, then perhaps watching fellow passengers STOPPING from from their daily routine of rushing around to pick up a flag and wave it will!!! It captures your attention immediately, but then when you see 80 or more veterans coming off an American Airlines Honor Flight, it is awesome. Some World War II veterans are in their 90's, so many come off in wheelchairs, others with canes, and some are walking. Each veteran is assigned a volunteer companion throughout the flight and journey. When the veterans disembark the plane and are greeted by music and a cheering crowd, it visually gets them. It gets all of us observing too, and there are a lot of tears shed. Many in the crowd shake hands, offer hugs, or kiss these veterans, and the veterans are beyond humble, but so appreciative to be acknowledged in this way! 

Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization created solely to honor America’s veterans for all their sacrifices. They transport our heroes to Washington, D.C. to visit and reflect at their memorials. Top priority is given to the senior veterans – World War II survivors, along with those other veterans who may be terminally ill.

Of all of the wars in recent memory, it was World War II that truly threatened our very existence as a nation—and as a culturally diverse, free society. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, an estimated 640 WWII veterans die each day. Here are some interesting statistics:

over 20,000 veterans have flown an Honor Flight in 2015

over 19,000 guardians have flown an Honor Flight in 2015

there are 130 Honor Flight Hubs (in 42 states)

For more information about Honor Flights.........

https://www.honorflight.org/

The gate door is decorated for the veterans' arrival. There are civilians and military to greet the flight!

The man with the yellow jacket is a veteran and the man behind him is a guardian volunteer assigned to assist him on the flight and throughout the day at the memorials. Picture this with 80+ veterans. 

Another veteran. You can see people shaking his hand. Notice we were all given these cute American flags to hold and wave!

The main volunteer preparing us before the veterans disembarked the plane was wearing this great shirt!!! It says.....We can't all be heroes. Some of us get to stand on the curb and clap as they go by. ~ Will Rogers

The band greeting the veterans was OUTSTANDING and put all of us in a very patriotic mood. 

It is wonderful that American Airlines does this. In fact the pilot who flew the veterans was then a passenger on our flight. He was truly a compassionate man. Was even helping passengers on our flight to their seats!

This is the main atrium area at the Charlotte airport! Is it not beautiful? There are wooden rocking chairs in this atrium and a live piano player. I think DC could learn a few things!!!

Charlotte was our stop over and then we landed at our destination, Indianapolis. The airport is HUGE. I have come to the conclusion, the wide open space makes people happier and friendlier. People seem less stressed and certainly more helpful in Indiana. Literally there were greeters at baggage claim. Adorable older adults, who can't wait to help you. I absolutely loved it.

This large building is our Westin were we are staying. It is right next to the convention center, on the left!

The green space outside our hotel! With flowers and fountains. I visited Indianapolis about 15 years ago, before Mattie was born. I attended a conference here, and I liked it back then. Now it has grown significantly and appears very vibrant. 

The beautiful State House!