Page 53 - Summer 2019 - Lubbock Senior Link Magazine - Online Magazine

who could not get the trip progresses because they
up the steps of the are together for three days, go as a
bus. Believe me, group to lay the wreaths and relish
you really get close the appreciation from the public.
to those people and Many veterans have said this is the
their guardians. A trip of a lifetime, and that makes the
few months later, I staff feel very proud.
attended the funeral
of one of them. If I must pick a favorite event, it
has to be the welcome home that
For the 2018 flight, our veterans get when we return to
I was shoved “up” Lubbock. This is several decades
playing, and our older veterans
lay a wreath. The staff are always to bus captain. This was a lot less overdue for many of them and a
watching for anyone who needs any grunt work and more about looking thrill to know that I have had a
special attention or needs to be alone for problems. I could not have small part in making it happen!
for a moment. had better help, and I delegated The airport is packed with family,
a lot. I felt that things went quite friends, and supporters as the
The Changing of the Guard and smoothly. We accomplished our veterans, led by a bagpiper, march
laying a wreath at the Tomb of purpose of making it a trip that (and roll) through an Honor Guard,
the Unknown Solider is one of honored our veterans. It has been band music, posters, flag wavers,
the most sobering things I’ve ever really interesting to see the trips and well-wishers. What a treasure
experienced. The gently rolling from three different perspectives. It it is to see these men and women
hills, the surrounding grass and is obvious that the staff ALWAYS has receive their just reward.
trees, and the rows and rows of the welfare and the honoring of the
graves in military line from any veterans as their
direction you are looking - it is top priority.
almost overwhelming. Being While it is
there with MY veterans whom I tempting to find
am getting to know can be very a favorite of the
emotional. I tell people that I places we go, I
probably worship more in this place can recall special
than they do in their Sunday church memories of
services. One of the guardians told each.
me that it was here that, for the first
time, he had seen a tear in the eye of This is a huge
his 80-something year old father. undertaking
accomplished
The visit to the Vietnam Wall is strictly by
an emotional time for a lot of our volunteers.
guys. We aid in finding names of This trip cannot
buddies and see lots of grieving and happen without
remembering. In visiting with a lot supportive,
of these veterans, I have yet to have selfless
one tell me that they regretted the guardians.
trip to “The Wall.” Dealing with
older people
On the 2017 flight, I was an assistant is a challenge,
bus captain, my primary job being but the rewards
the loading and unloading of are plentiful. I
wheelchair veterans at each of the always observe
stops. Most of my dealings on a bonding of
this trip were with three veterans the veterans as

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