Honor Flight

Happy Memorial Day

  

A proper heroes return, Papa being interviewed for
the news,Highlights from a once in a lifetime party!

Jim Haley circa 1952, Japan

I can not think of a more appropriate way to celebrate Memorial Day, then with a return blog covering the Northwest Ohio Honor Flight on Wednesday May 21, 2014. Of course each and every trip that is made through this amazing organization is very special. However, this one was particularly significant. Why? Well, there happened to be an extra special passenger, Jim Haley aboard the 757 Boeing, that made the flight to Washington D.C that day! Mr. Haley, who I will affectionately refer to as Papa from here on out, had been on a waiting list and finally received clearance that he would be on one of the last 3 Honor Flights from Toledo, OH. Needless to say since Papa is bound to a wheelchair and lives at the Genoa Care Center, vacations are out of the question these days. This literally was the opportunity of a lifetime and not just for him but for our family too!

Selfie with Papa, Colton and Papa showing their
special badges and a Korean War uniform!

When I was 18, I worked in the Congress building alongside Marcy Kaptur, to complete my Senior project. You see, I had high hopes of going into politics. I wanted to make a difference, change the world, be the voice of the people, yadda, yadda, yadda! Although I changed my mind during that trip, regarding a career in politics, I learned something even more important during my time in D.C. What I learned was simple, you CAN NOT teach history in a classroom or a book as well as you can show it to a child. I had years of history classes throughout school and nothing really set in, until I walked the paths of Arlington Cemetery and browsed through the Library of Congress. I think before you turn 18 it should be mandatory to take a pilgrimage to our nations capitol. Not just to see the sights and experience the rich history of our country but to be reminded of why we are lucky to live in America and have the right to vote.



A very proud Papa with his family!
The Maria R. getting ready to fly to D.C

 

Last Wednesday, I again got to SEE history instead of just hearing about it or reading a book on the subject. I saw elderly men who once in their prime fought bravely on the battlefield during war. I witnessed the unconditional love they have for their country. There were no political sides being taken between men that day, just the side of the United States of America. Something long forgotten in today's day and age, that we are

still first and foremost UNITED. I saw hundreds of people show up to welcome those 72 men back from the days journey, an ode to welcoming them home long ago. I watched my own children wave their flags and clap their little hands to the beat of, "God Bless America". But most importantly I realized that the man who sat across from me at the breakfast table, who yelled at me to get off the phone during dinner and told me I couldn't go to the basketball game because it was, "Too damn cold out", was a HERO. So while you are enjoying your hot dogs and hamburgers today, playing corn hole and drinking a Bud Light on your patio, remember to take time and thank a soldier for allowing you to live freely in the USA!!!




For more pictures click here! Thank you to the Genoa Care Center especially to Candace Camp for orchestrating everything, Steve Goodhand for being an amazing, selfless care taker and a veteran as well, Mike and Diane Haley for living in DC and meeting up with Jim so he could have family alongside and to NWO Honor Flight for making this all possible!


Did you thank a soldier today?



A very special THANK YOU to
Steve Goodhand, who went along as a
very helpful guardian... without you, this
opportunity would have never been
possible and Thank you for your
service to our country as well!