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Second Honor Flight lands
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By Rebekah Allen
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Pensacola News Journal, October 15th, 2008
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Second Honor Flight lands
101 WWII vets visiting Washington, D.C., memorials
Rebekah Allen
rallen@pnj.com
Charles Clower's eyes darted from behind his glasses — left to right, left to right — as the 82-year-old World War II veteran recounted tales of kamikaze planes flying overhead as a young Navy radioman.
"It's as if you can see them again," Clower said.
Sometimes it's hard to remember all the details — it has been more than 60 years. But when he gets around other veterans, the memories come rushing back.
Today, Clower is likely to be flooded with those memories as one of 101 WWII veterans embarking on the second Emerald Coast Honor Flight.
Honor Flight is an effort to give the nation's WWII veterans a chance to visit their war memorial and be celebrated for their service. U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Chumuckla, brought the Panhandle its first honor flight in April and said he will continue the program until every WWII veteran who wishes to make the flight is able to.
The group has arrived in Washington, D.C. By 10 a.m., they had boarded a bus and are on their way to the memorial.
After a lunch provided by Arby's, the group boarded their bus and are heading to visit the monument.
Miller said he originally planned for at least two flights per year. But if more funding becomes available through donations, he'd like to increase the number of flights to three of four a year.
Nationwide, veterans of that era are dying at a rate of about 1,200 per day, Miller said. There are 6,000 WWII veterans in his six-county congressional district.
"Many of these veterans are in their upper 80s and their health is not good," Miller said. "And we want to see as many of them go to Washington as possible."
The veterans and 36 guardians left Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport about 7 a.m. today.
After landing in Washington, D.C., the veterans will be greeted by Miller, before touring the WWII, Lincoln, Korean and Vietnam memorials. They are scheduled to return to Pensacola by 7 p.m.
"It will be a long day," Clower said. "But it will be exciting and that will take the fatigue out of it."
Miller said the public is invited to welcome the veterans back at the airport. About 400 veterans applied for this flight, but priority was given to those with health concerns.
Claud Davis, who turns 101 on May 31, is the oldest member of the flight.
The retired Navy lieutenant senior grade swapped war stories with Navy veterans Clower and Bill Williams, 84, over lunch last week in anticipation of the flight.
The three told stories of burials at sea, watching bombs fall from the sky and suicide pilots. But they found laughter while remembering the green faces of their seasick peers.
"Us Navy guys tend to stick together. But we stay away from the Marine guys," Williams joked.
The three have all been to Washington, but each visited before their memorial was erected.
"I won't cry, I don't think," Williams said. "I already did when I saw the other veterans. It brought back memories. Sometimes we can't help it."
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