Old Glory Honor Flight — One of the Best Days of Our Lives!

After months of anticipation, the morning of Wednesday, September 11, 2024, finally arrived. I was awake before the 3:45 am alarm rang. By 4:40 am, John and I were at my dad’s house to pick him up for our 6:30 flight to Baltimore.

My dad, Kieran Purcell, who served in the Air Force from 1956 until 1960, and worked as a contractor for the Air Force from 1965 until 1978, had earned a spot on the 70th Mission of the Old Glory Honor Flight, departing from Appleton International Airport.

After making our goodbyes to John, Dad and I made our way into the building, checked in, Dad got his picture taken, we got a goodie bag with some bling (including a pin for Dad to attach to his Air Force hat), and we walked to the gate to enjoy a breakfast of doughnuts and coffee catered by Dunkin’, as in the donut place. (We highly recommend the pumpkin cake donuts.)

By 7:00 they were loading the plane with the nearly 100 vets and their guardians. Many of the vets, like us, were father/daughter teams or father/son teams. As the plane was departing, construction workers who were working on an addition to the airport, lined up shoulder to shoulder along the tarmac in a show of respect for the vets.

Ninety minutes later we landed at the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, where the vets were welcomed with a water salute by firetrucks on both sides of the airplane and then a Revolutionary War re-enactor inside the gate ringing a handbell announcing our arrival.

Four busloads of vets were loaded up (that, in itself, was a process, as a number of the men were using wheelchairs or had oxygen tanks and other medical paraphernalia in tow). Our first stop was the World War II Monument. It had been constructed after Dad’s last trip to Washington, D.C. He was thoroughly impressed by it. We got our picture taken in front of the Wisconsin pillar and walked around the entire perimeter but never did find the two “Kilroy Was Here” etchings.

After that it was off to the National Mall. The Lincoln Memorial is under construction until 2025, so we didn’t go up the ramp to get to the area where the memorial sits, which was probably a good thing because I was pushing the wheelchair that had been provided for Dad and it was unseasonably warm that day. He asked more than once during our time there if I wanted to take a breather and he could push because I was panting from the exertion!

Next, we went to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which is always a moving experience as you watch the vets using tracing paper to make rubbings of names on the wall of friends and family members who’d lost their lives in the Vietnam War.

We made two stops on our way from there to look at the Vietnam Women’s Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, both artfully designed and crafted statutes that were sobering to view. Dad was so impressed by the figures that made up The Korean War Veterans Memorial. He’d known a number of men who’d served in that war. We looked at the panels on the Korean War Veterans Wall of Remembrance listing the names of the 36,000+ U.S. soldiers who lost their lives in the war and the 7,100 Koreans who died while augmenting the Army.

With all that time in the sun, Dad and I were ready to head back to the air-conditioned bus and enjoy our Arby’s box lunches. After lunch the busses took us to the Air Force Memorial which I would say was Dad’s favorite. Not only did he serve in the Air Force but the view of the skyline of Washington, D.C. was spectacular.

As we were going about our day, I realized this was the most time alone I’ve ever spent with my dad in one day. We conversed throughout the day on a wide variety of topics, including his and acquaintances’ military service. We had discussions that may never have come up if we hadn’t had that quantity of time together.

Next on the agenda was Arlington National Cemetery. We got there is time to witness the Changing of the Guard at 3:00. You could’ve heard a pin drop as the we watched the procedure. Because it was September 11, Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance, there were dozens of people in attendance who we imagined were politicians or staff members. We also saw a family lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to honor the sacrifices of American service members—perhaps it had been a loved one of their own.

The final stop of the day was the U.S. Marine Corps War Monument, which is also known as the Iwo Jima Monument. Dad and I knew one John Bradley from our years when he was stationed at the Air Force base in Antigo. He was one of the Marines who’d help raise one of the flags on Mount Suribachi, captured in iconic photos by Joe Rosenthal on February 23, 1945.

Our group of veterans was treated to a performance by the United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon, a 24-man rifle platoon that performs a precision drill exhibition without verbal commands or cadences. The platoon performance highlights the professionalism of the Marine Corps.

We completed our day with another tasty box lunch from Arby’s while we sat on steps overlooking the park where the monument rests. After that, it was loading the busses again, fighting D.C. traffic as they geared up for a home game for the Washington Nationals, and back to the airport.

Each event throughout the day built on the one before it. When we boarded the flight for home, the vets probably thought they’d experienced every part of The Old Glory Honor Flight. But the crew and volunteers had a couple more surprises up their sleeves. The vets and guardians were gifted an impressive medallion commemorating the day.

Then was mail call. Each man received an envelope stuffed with letters thanking them for their service or welcoming them home. These letters were from civic organizations, schools, 4-H clubs, children, and, most impactfully, from their own families and friends. Dad and I both had tears in our eyes as he read through each letter. He particularly loved the notes from his kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. We’re all so proud of him and his service to our country!

They saved the best for last. After all the men were off the airplane in Appleton, they drew back the curtains, the band struck up, and we were welcomed home by nearly a thousand well-wishers. This was the welcome that every vet deserved when they completed their military service. Both Dad and I had tears rolling down our cheeks as I accompanied him through the corridor of happy and grateful citizens. It was a sight to behold watching the men being saluted, people shaking their hands, posters held up high honoring the vets, and witnessing the men rushing into the arms of their beloved family members.

At the end of the night, Dad declared, “This has been one of the best days of my life!” I concurred. He then said, “I’ll remember this day the rest of my life… however long that may be.” With his current state of health, only God knows that. But I will add, it was the best day I’ve ever had with my dad, and I’m so glad all the pieces fell into place so that we could experience this trip together.

If you know any vet who served in the U.S. military between December, 7, 1941 and May, 7, 1975—wartime or peacetime—let them know about flights like The Old Glory Honor Flight. These trips are life-changing for our veterans. It’s never too late to say thank you!