Vet grateful for Honor Flight

At the urging of Allen Stekl and Norm Russell, I attended this year's Honor Flight. I want to honor those thoughtful and dedicated sponsors, the employees of Quaker Oats and the company, individual volunteers and guardians who made it possible for veterans of World War II, Korean and Vietnam wars to go on a trip of a lifetime.

Each veteran had guardians who looked after us every minute and we were treated like royalty. The guardians had to pay their own way. I was very fortunate as my guardian was in the U.S. Navy, Air Force in the Vietnam era and is also my youngest son. He took time off work and drove from Louisville, Ky.

When we arrived at the Ronald Reagan Airport, it was full of people waiting to greet us even though they did not know us. Keith Hollingsworth and I were honored to hand a wreath to the guard to be laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.

On the flight home we were all treated to the best looking plaque I had ever seen. This was from the Cedar Rapids Corvette Club.

Back at The Eastern Iowa Airport, we were greeted by hundreds. My daughter made such an outstanding poster for my son and me.

My son said it all: “Dad, after seeing the looks of all these veterans' faces, I wish I was back in good old Cedar Rapids, so I could be in a position to be a volunteer guardian.”

Norm Rowray

Solon