Article: Honor Flight

I love this article. What a great accomplishment for Earl Morse. Looking at his smiling face shows you such goodness. May God bless him. I hope these flights go on and on and on and......

What a wonderful idea and a great service. The only thing lacking was how to make donations to the project.

Question: has the government ever corrected the "Day of Infamy" speech by FDR? When we were there a couple of years ago, the full speech was there, except the last three words: SO HELP US GOD!

Did any of the veterans comment on the ommission?

This was a well-written piece, You are to be congratulated.

I have an uncle who was a B-17 bombadaire 43-44 and was able to visit the Memorial just after it was finished and before the the official dedication. A person sponsored a free trip form Sacramento using his own airline. Some 70 men went. I visited the memorial in September of 2004. Keep up the work flying WWII veterans to the Memorial.

Richard Davis

What a wonderful story! A big "thank you" to Earl Morse for seeing a need and following through for our veterans. I'm sure many would not have been able to make such a trip without his help. My dad and my father-in-law were both WII veterans and how I wish they could have seen the memorial.

Thank you so much and God Bless!

Thanks to Earl Morse for his efforts! My husband is a WWll Navy vet, was a Radioman aboard a communications ship off Iwo Jima & Okinawa's shores the days of the invasions. I know he would love to see the memorial & show his respect to the heroes of those and all other battles. (I'm a stroke survivor & financialy impossble for him to go).
We were sorry however that at the dedication of the memorial no mention was made of his kinfolk Bill Mauldin who was known & loved by all servicemen. May they all rest in peace.

Congratulations on a heartwarming article.

Jean30

What our country needs are more great, giving people such as yourself. You are a true hero!!
Thank you,
Thomas L Gesell

This article brought tears to my eyes. I have been honored to know two World War II Veterans in my lifetime, my grandfather and my father-in-law. Unfortunately, both have passed away and never got to see the memorial built in their honor.

Thank You Earl Morse for making this trip possible for so many of our deserving Veterans. It is a great deed and one that will be the memory of a lifetime for each and every recipient!

My father-in-law, Frank J. Hodak, fired the first shot for U.S. Army at Pearl Harbor, he was a highly trained rifleman and ranger for the U.S. Army. His troop was transferred from Pearl Harbor just days after December 7th and he spent the next three years in the swamps of some dreadful islands in the middle of th

This article brought tears to my eyes. I have been honored to know two World War II Veterans in my lifetime, my grandfather and my father-in-law. Unfortunately, both have passed away and never got to see the memorial built in their honor.

Thank You Earl Morse for making this trip possible for so many of our deserving Veterans. It is a great deed and one that will be the memory of a lifetime for each and every recipient!

My father-in-law, Frank J. Hodak, died on January 12, 2004. He fired the first shot for U.S. Army at Pearl Harbor, he was a highly trained rifleman and Army Ranger. His troop was transferred from Pearl Harbor just days after December 7th and he spent the next three years in the swamps of some dreadful Pacific islands where he lived in constant fear for his life. Very few men from his troop made it back alive. Frank returned to the U.S. after three years of living in hell. He met a wonderful young lady, married her and built afamily as well as a business with her. He and his wife raised seven children. Throughout his life, Frank rarely talked about WWII, he never asked for pity, sorrow or thanks. I can remember only a few instances when Frank was questioned by his family that he actually divulged some of his less gruesome WWII expereinces.
Frank was the kind of man who did what he had to do and moved on. He was the most interesting and honorable man I have ever known and I am so pleased that this memorial was finally built in honor of him and other soldiers like him.

Reading this article by Marcia Schonberg about Mr. Earl Morse was the BEST journalism I've read in ages!!! My brother Vic was in Vietnam for 2 tours of duty and was shot down twice trying to pick up his comrads out of enemy territory. He received two Purple Hearts for his bravery. Our young men and women and the more seasoned of our forces face adversities and terror and hunger and pain every day... We should honor them EVERY day for the work they do as they represent the most BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY in the world "The United States of America". GOD BLESS Mr. Morse for his humanity and compassion and selflessness. And when you see a Vet - thank him or her for their sacrifice for YOU!

Laura Cline

As I read the article "Honor Flight" I remembered my father and the 4 long years he spent in Europe fighting to keep our country, America, free as well as those countries whose freedom was being threatened in Europe. He was a true patriot and was proud to serve in the army. To the gentleman who is helping these noble soldiers go to Washington to visit the WWII Memorial I want to say thank you. My dad is deceased now but I wish he could have lived to participate in a flight and to know that he was truly appreciated for his sacrifices. He would have been very proud.

Thank you for your article. Clearly, it will encourage others to attend this Memorial.
My sisters and I took my 85 year old father to Washington this past weekend!
What a weekend it was. The heat, the crowds, the extended walking, the expense and all of the things that can be frustrating was pushed aside and forgotten the moment he saw the gradure that is presented by the Memorial.
I can speak of many, many positive occurances. However, the best for me and my sisters, and I believe the best for him, was the amazing number of people that came directly to him and thanked him. You see he was wearing his Purple Heart "Wounded in Combat" cap and his T-Shirt that had the American Flag emblazened across the front.
One family of 8 that was visiting the Memorial actually asked if he would join them in a family picture they were taking! He has never wilted away from attention so, believe me, he was enthralled with the attention and remarkable understanding some of the young people displayed. This was unbelievable!
People asked him many questions about battles, missions and other interesting topics. He was clearly overjoyed having the opportunity to share this information with them.

Dear Earl Morse,
I live in the Northern California Area with a large population of WW2 veterns. Any chance we could be included in the program as described in the July29August 4,2007 issue of American Profile.?

I proudly served in the U.S. Army/AirForce major repair service at Chanute Field, Ill. and Elmendorf field in Anchorage, Alaska from 1942-1946.

Thank you for your contribution to all the servicemen serving our country.

Respectfully,
Arthur E. Hopgood

Karen:

He was there!

Jean

We were so pleased to see our Gold Wing Road Rider Chapter N-2 member on your cover but were sad to see his name was not mentioned. We are proud to say his name is Richard Pope age 83 of New Vienna Ohio.

My husband, Gene Schleyer played in a golf tournament along with our current Chapter Director, Jim Langan which raises funds for the Honor Flight. He got the application for Richard and he mailed it in. Richard was excepted for the first flight out in April 2007. His son and grandson flew from Chicago and met him at the WW II memorial.

Richard said it was one of the best days of his life and we were so proud of him. Some of us met him and the others at the Dayton airport on their return with flags waving.

Our Chapter would like to get the original picture on the cover so we can have it framed for Christmas. If you can help please e-mail me at Gsschleyer@msn and and I will send the address.

Thanks to everyone responsible for this great program.

Sharon Schleyer
Gene Schleyer Past Senior Dirictors N-2 Sabina Ohio

What an inspiring article!
I donated money for the WWII monument in the name of my father (Albert L. Christopher) and my father in law, (Archie B Blackwell). Sadly, my father in law passed away before the memorial was begun.

My father, however, is going strong at 86 and I've thought about taking him to see this memorial but I think it would mean much more if he were to be able to go with other WWII vets.

Please let us know how we can contribute to such a worthy cause and also how we can get him on the waiting list.

Thanks for such an uplifting article.

Nancy