A Welcome Home That Washes Shame Away
“Going to Washington on Mission 60 was one of the greatest days of my life. Even now, months later, I tear up when I start talking about that day. I was shunned when I came home from Vietnam. No one wanted anything to do with me, but that Welcome Home in Appleton washed those feelings of shame away. I’m standing a little taller these days. Thank you for helping this old man heal,” said Gary, a recent Old Glory Honor Flight alum from Fond du Lac.
Facing The Wall: Don’s Story
Many times veterans are nervous about taking the Honor Flight. This happened with Don, a Vietnam veteran. Two days prior to the flight a phone call came in from Don’s wife who was concerned that he would drop from the trip because he could not go to the wall. After a conversation with him, he decided to make the trip, however was not going to go to the wall. When the time came for that part of the trip, we went and sat on a bench. He started to cry, saying he could not face the wall because he did not see name’s, he saw faces. He said, he had been in the battle of Three Tree’s and he had 36 guys on the wall. Emotions were very high however the rest of the day was wonderful and Don’s family said that he was a changed man. His life was changed which his wife said changed all of their lives. (It is not how we take them on their Tour of Honor, It is how we bring them home.) Don was from Omro.
Every Veteran Deserves Their Tour of Honor
Many time’s veterans feel they do not deserve to go on a flight because they say they didn’t do anything. This was the case with one veteran who was captured shortly after he went overseas. He was starved, isolated, and beaten. When he got home after months of being held captive he said he always knew it was a good day because there was a doorknob on the right side of the door. He did deserved his Tour Of Honor, as do all veterans.
