thedrifter
04-17-09, 09:14 AM
April 17, 2009
2 local WWII vets honored for service in nation's capital
BY MORGAN DAY
The Eagle-Gazette Staff
LANCASTER -Hubert "Red" Gandee spent much of his life thinking America had forgotten about those who fought for their country in World War II.
But the support of strangers he saw during a recent Military Honor Flight restored his faith.
Gandee flew from Columbus to Washington, D.C., a week ago Saturday with about 30 other World War II veterans. The trip was part of an Honor Flight that sends U.S. veterans to D.C. to see memorials dedicated to them.
A swarm of family members waving flags was there to greet Gandee and his fellow passengers when they got off the return flight to Columbus. Not only that, but people with no direct ties to those veterans joined together to show their support.
The 85-year-old tail gunner on a B-52 bomber said the homecoming in Columbus was the most amazing part of the trip.
"I myself thought what we went through with that, that people forgot too quick," he said. "But they make me think different when we came back overnight.
"It's hard to believe that many people would come out to welcome World War II veterans because a lot of people forgot real quick after World War II was over."
The veterans on the trip visited several memorial sites, including the World War II Memorial and the statue of Marines raising the American flag at Iwo Jima. The Honor Flight Network has sent thousands of veterans across the county to visit these sites.
Gandee's family members were supportive, helping him apply for the trip and providing transportation to and from the airport. His granddaughter, Laura Romans, said she is proud to see her grandfather honored.
"I thought it was really neat as a grandchild to be able to welcome our grandfather home from some military thing, something of that honor, to be able to share it with my family," she said.
Laura and her husband, Doug Diehl, plan to take their two daughters, Emily and Alli Romans, to Washington, D.C., to learn about the importance of America's history. Each veteran was assigned one helper, or guardian, for the entire trip. Gandee's son, Larry Gandee, praised Honor Flight Columbus, a "hub" of the Honor Flight Network.
"They were very congenial about feeding them and helping them," Larry Gandee said.
George Pursley spent six years in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He also attended the trip, which was possible because Gahanna High School students raised $12,000 to send the 30-some veterans.
The 87-year-old Lancaster resident enjoyed seeing the sites and memorials, including the historic landmarks along their tour bus' path. He recommends the trip for other veterans who can go.
"It was very interesting," Pursley said. "It brought back a lot of memories. You see different things you associate with your time in the service."
Bobbi Richards, president and co-director of Honor Flight Columbus, said what she often sees is that veterans on the trip realize U.S. citizens do appreciate them. For some, she said, it's the first time they've ever been thanked.
Not only that, the experience opens up an avenue of communication for those who find trouble sharing their military history. She said the organization is scrambling to get more veterans to turn in applications for the program.
"What we hope comes out of this is the veterans go home and share their stories because we're going to lose this piece of history," she said. "They're dying at a rate of 1,000 to 1,200 a day, and if they don't share the stories of what they did and what we learned from all that, the value of that could be lost."
Additional Facts
how to help
The Honor Flight Network operates on donations, so veterans need your help to get the funds for their trips.
Gahanna High School students raised about $12,000 for Red Gandee and George Pursley's trip from Columbus to Washington, D.C.
To learn how you can help, visit www.honorflight.org.
About 1,200 World War II veterans die each day.
The average life expectancy of an American male is 74.4 years, while the youngest World War II veteran is more than 79 years old.
Increasing health care costs have drained the life savings of most World War II veterans and their spouses.
Veterans of World War II have waited more than 60 years for their memorial, located in Washington, D.C.
The Honor Flight Network is a nonprofit organization. It receives no government funding and relies on individual, corporate and organizational donations.
Participation in the Honor Flight requires application, and the network takes veterans in the order it receives applications. For information and applications, visit www.honorflight.org, e-mail info@honorflight.org or call 937-521-2400.
Ellie
2 local WWII vets honored for service in nation's capital
BY MORGAN DAY
The Eagle-Gazette Staff
LANCASTER -Hubert "Red" Gandee spent much of his life thinking America had forgotten about those who fought for their country in World War II.
But the support of strangers he saw during a recent Military Honor Flight restored his faith.
Gandee flew from Columbus to Washington, D.C., a week ago Saturday with about 30 other World War II veterans. The trip was part of an Honor Flight that sends U.S. veterans to D.C. to see memorials dedicated to them.
A swarm of family members waving flags was there to greet Gandee and his fellow passengers when they got off the return flight to Columbus. Not only that, but people with no direct ties to those veterans joined together to show their support.
The 85-year-old tail gunner on a B-52 bomber said the homecoming in Columbus was the most amazing part of the trip.
"I myself thought what we went through with that, that people forgot too quick," he said. "But they make me think different when we came back overnight.
"It's hard to believe that many people would come out to welcome World War II veterans because a lot of people forgot real quick after World War II was over."
The veterans on the trip visited several memorial sites, including the World War II Memorial and the statue of Marines raising the American flag at Iwo Jima. The Honor Flight Network has sent thousands of veterans across the county to visit these sites.
Gandee's family members were supportive, helping him apply for the trip and providing transportation to and from the airport. His granddaughter, Laura Romans, said she is proud to see her grandfather honored.
"I thought it was really neat as a grandchild to be able to welcome our grandfather home from some military thing, something of that honor, to be able to share it with my family," she said.
Laura and her husband, Doug Diehl, plan to take their two daughters, Emily and Alli Romans, to Washington, D.C., to learn about the importance of America's history. Each veteran was assigned one helper, or guardian, for the entire trip. Gandee's son, Larry Gandee, praised Honor Flight Columbus, a "hub" of the Honor Flight Network.
"They were very congenial about feeding them and helping them," Larry Gandee said.
George Pursley spent six years in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He also attended the trip, which was possible because Gahanna High School students raised $12,000 to send the 30-some veterans.
The 87-year-old Lancaster resident enjoyed seeing the sites and memorials, including the historic landmarks along their tour bus' path. He recommends the trip for other veterans who can go.
"It was very interesting," Pursley said. "It brought back a lot of memories. You see different things you associate with your time in the service."
Bobbi Richards, president and co-director of Honor Flight Columbus, said what she often sees is that veterans on the trip realize U.S. citizens do appreciate them. For some, she said, it's the first time they've ever been thanked.
Not only that, the experience opens up an avenue of communication for those who find trouble sharing their military history. She said the organization is scrambling to get more veterans to turn in applications for the program.
"What we hope comes out of this is the veterans go home and share their stories because we're going to lose this piece of history," she said. "They're dying at a rate of 1,000 to 1,200 a day, and if they don't share the stories of what they did and what we learned from all that, the value of that could be lost."
Additional Facts
how to help
The Honor Flight Network operates on donations, so veterans need your help to get the funds for their trips.
Gahanna High School students raised about $12,000 for Red Gandee and George Pursley's trip from Columbus to Washington, D.C.
To learn how you can help, visit www.honorflight.org.
About 1,200 World War II veterans die each day.
The average life expectancy of an American male is 74.4 years, while the youngest World War II veteran is more than 79 years old.
Increasing health care costs have drained the life savings of most World War II veterans and their spouses.
Veterans of World War II have waited more than 60 years for their memorial, located in Washington, D.C.
The Honor Flight Network is a nonprofit organization. It receives no government funding and relies on individual, corporate and organizational donations.
Participation in the Honor Flight requires application, and the network takes veterans in the order it receives applications. For information and applications, visit www.honorflight.org, e-mail info@honorflight.org or call 937-521-2400.
Ellie