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Welcome Home

“A lot of people coming back, they don’t [expect it]. They’re just totally in awe when they come in and that airport is packed. It’s the welcome home they never got, especially for the Vietnam veterans.”   ~Lee Bedore, Honor Flight Organizer

 

One might think that all of the activities of a day spent in Washington, D.C. would leave Iowa veterans with so many things to talk about, it would be difficult to choose which experience stood out the most. For many, one lasting memory has nothing at all to do with the nation’s capital. Rather, the highlight of the day happens on the concourse of the Waterloo Regional Airport when the veterans disembark from the airplane and are greeted by hundreds of friends and family members welcoming them home.

And what a welcome it is. An escort provided by the Knights of Columbus leads the parade of veterans in, the terminal lined with people waving American flags, families holding welcome home signs for their favorite veterans. Hugs and handshakes abound, all while the Cedar Valley Big Band performs such standards as “American Patrol,” “In the Mood” and “Sing, Sing, Sing.”

While The Cedar Valley Honor Flight Story: A Photographic Journey contains dozens of images that span nearly thirty welcome home celebrations, perhaps one photograph, captured in October 2018, best expresses the joy of the moment. As the festivities of the celebration were winding down, one final wheelchair descended down the jetway transporting a veteran who was quickly joined by, wait for it… his beautiful bride of who knows how many years. 

Welcome home, indeed!

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The Ground Crew

Cedar Valley Honor Flights have reached their final destination of Washington, D.C. by way of the three major airports serving the nation’s capital. Early flights arrived at Dulles International Airport located in Dulles, Virginia. The organization has also made arrivals at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
 
Regardless the arrival location, one common sight is the presence of volunteers adorned in brightly colored t-shirts. These Honor Flight Ground Crew members not only greet each incoming flight, they assist veterans and streamline their movement through the terminal to the tour buses that await them.
 
In Baltimore, Cedar Valley Honor Flight veterans had the pleasure of meeting Joe Short, whose infectious enthusiasm for greeting veterans was a welcome like no other. Stationed prominently at the head of the greeting line, Mr. Short wasn’t having any of the standard, “Welcome to Baltimore,” or “Thank you for your service,” catchphrases. No siree. If the name on the lanyard worn by each veteran was not visible, Joe wouldn’t hesitate to reach out and turn it around so he could warmly greet each person by name. And as evidenced by one of the featured photographs in the soon-to-be-released book The Cedar Valley Honor Flight Story: A Photographic Journey, one could say Joe even had a special way with the ladies.
 
Given the brisk schedule of arrivals from Honor Flights spanning more than 40 states, there must be hundreds of volunteers living in the Washington, D.C. area that serve as members of the Ground Crew. Look closely at the backs of the t-shirts they wear and you’ll find a Will Rogers quote that sums up the spirit of gratitude these volunteers share: “We can’t all be heroes – some of us get to stand on the curb and clap as they go by.”
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The Sailor

Cedar Valley Honor Flight’s 13th trip took 98 World War II and Korean War era veterans to Washington, D.C. on June 16, 2015. It wasn’t until the following year that Vietnam War veterans were eligible for Honor Flights departing from Waterloo, Iowa, so there were a large number of wheelchairs to manage and veterans who needed them that day.

There are two moments during each Honor Flight experience where photographers need a fast camera and a trigger finger to match. With the goal of capturing at least one image of every veteran in attendance, the best times to do this are when the plane lands, both going and coming home.

After we landed at Baltimore-Washington International Airport on that warm day in June, 2015, I was looking for the best position that would result in good images of the receiving line. A group of active duty Navy sailors had made their way to the airport to greet the veterans from Waterloo and I had to admit they looked quite snappy in their mostly white uniforms. During a short break in the action, as I waited for another group of wheelchairs to descend down the jetway, something caught my eye at the end of the receiving line. Unlike everyone else who was standing, Petty Officer Jeff Kleppe had squatted down so that he could make direct eye contact with a veteran hunched over in his wheelchair. While it was a genuine moment I will never forget and was lucky enough to photograph, I was even more impressed when we returned to the airport nine hours later. Waiting there to visit and see his “fellow” Iowa veterans off before they returned home was Jeff Kleppe. I say “fellow” because the petty officer’s hometown is Elgin, Iowa.

Not only did this image grace the front page of the next edition of The Progress Review, it was also on the cover of the commemorative DVD each veteran on the flight received. To this day, the image still resonates, a beautiful example of the intent of the Honor Flight program. And that’s why it’s also featured on the cover of The Cedar Valley Honor Flight Story: A Photographic Journey, a new book coming soon, filled with 166 pages of photos that will make you proud to be an American. -MW

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Labor of Love

I got the call just days before the second Honor Flight originating from Waterloo, Iowa was scheduled to lift off in May 2011. At the time, I was serving as the Editor and Publisher of The Progress Review, a weekly newspaper based in nearby La Porte City. Due to an unfortunate circumstance, a seat was available on the plane and the caller wanted to know if I was interested in filling it. With four local veterans aboard that flight, the first from La Porte City to make an Honor Flight departing from Waterloo, it was the chance of a lifetime I was not going to miss.

After returning from an incredible day in the nation’s capital, I had hundreds of photos and more than an hour of video footage that needed to be used in some way. Using my video editing software, I prepared a couple of programs that could be burned to a DVD and offered to send them to the veterans as a commemorative souvenir documenting their day in Washington, D.C..

At the time, I had no way of knowing that a long and rewarding working relationship with Cedar Valley Honor Flight was just beginning. Thirteen years later, we remain as committed as ever to the effort honoring Iowa veterans for their service, even after The Progress Review ended its publication run in 2020. I say “we” because our family-owned and operated newspaper has sent my wife, Jane, and valued employee, Mary Bauer, on numerous flights over the years and their skills as photographers are far outshine even my best day behind a camera. Thanks to fellow newsman John Klotzbach and Katie Davison, who have also covered flights for us, nearly 3,000 veterans have received commemorative DVDs of their Honor Flights, as our string of covering 28 consecutive flights continues into 2024.

And with the new year comes an exciting new project. The Cedar Valley Honor Flight Story: A Photographic Journey is a collection of more than 500 of our best images captured over the years and tells the story of how a committed group of volunteers has been able to raise more than $3 million to honor area veterans in a very special way.

I can’t wait to share it with you.  -MW