By: Sunny Johnson Lewis, Flight Coordinator

Veteran Jerry M. Smith of Durham received the US Flag in an honorary presentation on September 14, his 97th birthday.

Veterans Gloria Arnold Paul and Willie Edward Stone, escorted by Flight Directors Ryan Combs and Sunny Johnson, at the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

In the past 19 months, through the Triangle Flight of Honor, I have come to appreciate The Greatest Generation, a title history has bestowed forever on this modest, courageous generation.

In April 2009, a very small group of Triangle automobile dealers, sponsored by The North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association, decided to form a grass roots organization to fly 100 WW II veterans on a chartered plane to Washington to visit the memorial erected in their honor.

It was a monumental task, but once the Triangle community experienced the success of the inaugural Triangle Flight of Honor on October 7, 2010, thousands joined the effort. Public support insured that scheduling, funding and volunteer participation would enable us to include every WW II veteran who expressed an interest. As of October 26, 2011, 702 veterans have participated.

The one-day trip begins with a water cannon salute from the RDU fire department and wheels up at 8:30 a.m. from RDU International Airport. The veterans are greeted at Reagan Airport with fanfare that shouts “Welcome Respected Heroes of WW II.” There is another water cannon salute from fire trucks on the tarmac, hundreds of American flags waving, and a band greeting the flight with a medley of patriotic songs from the 1940s.

The day is packed with visiting the WW II Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, Space Museum, The Navy Museum, The Air Force Memorial, and Arlington Cemetery where the veterans participate in a wreath ceremony at the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier.

The highlight of the day takes place on the flight back to RDU. The veterans experience a Mail Call as they did in the service. They are given a bag of mail personally addressed to them by students, friends and family members who express gratitude for their participation in the war to preserve our freedom.

Awaiting the veterans at the RDU Airport are thousands of citizens, friends and families, anxious to give each the “Heroes’ Welcome” they might have missed after World War II. Bagpipers, bands, banners, balloons and shouts of “Thank You” fill the air.

I began the journey with the desire to just say “thank you” to WW II veterans and to bring some well deserved pleasure to these sometimes forgotten people. Boy, was I taken by surprise! I have certainly received the bigger blessing, making true friends who, like family, I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Yes, tears might flow, but for the leaders, volunteers and staff of The Triangle Flight of Honor, it says “Thank You!” to “The Greatest Generation”, a title that remains true and unchallenged for all time. They continue to give our country something to be very proud of!