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Veteran offers thank you
In my 88-year life span I felt that I had seen everything, heard everything, that would be moments I would consider highlights in my life.
But Sept. 5 this year I met a veteran near my age, Veteran Dick Wemer of St.
George. He stated, "Paul you should sign up for the Veterans trip going back to Washington, D.C., leaving the Hill Force Air Base on Sept. 13 and arriving back at Hill Force Air Base on Sept. 16.
I signed up and joined. Glen & Barbara Bagley, Rob & Jacqueline Bishop, Sue Elliot, Herman Ferdinando, Barbara Jacobson, Mahon Kid, Bill Nicolas, Doyle & Camilla Ohiwiler, Clayton Ramsay and his son Jay Ramsay, Warren Smith and his son-in-law, Steve Rockwell, Ray and Afton Stapley, Mary Thacker, Dick & Barbara Werner, Jay Williams, Robert & Marva Wood, Paul L. & LaRean C. Young -- 16 World War II Veterans from Washington, County. At Hill Air Force Base we joined 228 other veterans and their wives or relatives making a total of 244 Utah Veterans, from age 79 to 91 years of age.
That same group of people Tom Brokaw wrote about, Americas Greatest Generation. All on one plane. After a great send off program, we flew to Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., with a Crossed Sword and Red Carpet Greeting.
To keep this letter short we saw all those important sights and memorials in the night time then reviewed them in the daylight. It was very, very good. But the best part of the entire trip and gained my highest admiration was the timing, co-ordination, pre-planning of putting this all together, then pulling it off with perfection, not one glitch, not even a minute mistake. All the veterans give our heartfelt thanks to the committee members who are: Judy Lemmons, Clinton, Utah. Mike & Emily Mecham, Payson. Kirn Christofferson, Spanish Fork. Ryan Lind, Santaquin. Keith Hall, Orem. Keven Boughten, American Fork. This group pre-planned this trip and pulled it off beyond perfection and personification.
Thanks for the patient, kindly love, tenderness, thoughtfulness you continually gave us Old Last Gaspers. And last, but not the least our praise, thanks and humble gratitude to the Patriot Guard of Utah and their two lines holding 70 flags. To all of them I gave a salute, a handshake and a hug. To you male guard members I can never ever recall receiving tighter hugs your wife or girl friend gave me and those that had tears in their eyes when I stepped back. The hugs and the tears was indeed the frosting on the cake.
God be with you 'til we meet again.
รข Paul L. Young
St. George |
