VIDEO, PHOTOS: WWII Veterans Welcomed Home After Honor Flight
The Stars and Stripes Honor Flight had a late landing Saturday night, but that didn't deter the hundreds of people who showed up to thank the veterans during a special homecoming parade.
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Videos
More than 100 veterans from throughout Wisconsin were greeted at General Mitchell International Airport late Saturday night by hundreds of people welcoming them home and thanking them for their service.
Some of the members of the Greatest Generation had tears in their eyes as they walked and wheeled through the airport.
The trip was especially long as their flight had been delayed for hours in Washington, D.C. The group of World War II veterans – men and women – spent the day in Washington, D.C., while on a Stars and Stripes Honor Flight. The trip is designed to give the veterans a chance to see the World War II monument through a special one-day excursion. It all came to an end with the special late-night homecoming parade in the airport.
Veterans from several Milwaukee-area Patch.com communities were on the flight.
Stars and Stripes Honor Flight is a branch of the National Honor Flight Network that was started in Wisconsin by Port Washington resident and Alderman Joe Dean. The organization is showing a special documentary about the World War II veterans in August at Miller Park.
The next honor flight is scheduled for June 2.
Laura Schmidt
4:18 pm on Sunday, April 29, 2012
Thank you so much for staying late to take this! The smiles from all of the vets in the homecoming parade brought me to tears as it was a long day for them all (expecially with the 3 hour flight delay on the return home). Everyone who participated truly made this a memorable and special day for them all.
I accompanied my grandfather, Earl Herrmann, Milwaukee. He was in the 32nd division of the Army. He was a machinist and trained the women that were left behind to work. He worked for Allis Chalmers and was given special projects to build without knowing how they would be used. He was later deployed and served in Japan. When he got home after the war ended, he received a letter thanking him for his service and was informed that the project he worked on was one of many that was part of developing the atomic bomb. He never knew. So many great stories yesterday. Everyone we met had such a sincere and genuine appreciation of the service of all those that supported the war effort in so many different ways. Everyone shared a somber appreciation for those that are no longer here to tell their stories. A once in a lifetime experience!!! I can't wait for the August event at Miller Park ... 10,000 tickets sold so far ... it will be a reunion that shouldn't be missed. http://www.starsandstripeshonorflight.org/
Sarah Millard
9:56 pm on Sunday, April 29, 2012
Laura, these pictures are amazing. Thank you so much for sharing them and for sharing your grandfather's story. It's such an amazing thing to see their faces when they go through the parade at the airport. I know it was such a long day for the veterans, but it hopefully was worth it for them!
Lisa Sink
7:52 pm on Sunday, April 29, 2012
Laura, thank you for sharing your grandfather's fascinating story, as well as your photos from the day! You took some great shots. I love the one from the vets' perspective of the Navy corps smiling and applauding them. One of many great photos. Thanks to your grandfather for his service.
Laurie Van Tuinen
9:47 pm on Sunday, April 29, 2012
Thank you Sarah Millard for this wonderful video of the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight return on April 28, 2012. You are a tenacious and excellent journalist and the only media person to capture this momentous occasion on video. Hooray for you!
Sarah Millard
9:57 pm on Sunday, April 29, 2012
Thanks Laurie - it was a really cool thing to experience them coming off the plane in Milwaukee. We owe them - and many other veterans - so much!
Dan Skopp
11:25 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
As a Volunteer for the USO and a Veteran, it was a pleasure for me to greet my brothers and sisters in arms as they came back from their full day in our nations capitol.+