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| 7/21/2010 6:01:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | |
| | For more information: | about the Honor Flight, visit www.honorflightchicago.org.
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Elkhorn vet treated to trip to nation's capital to see war memorials
Maureen Vander Sanden
Elkhorn Independent Editor
For more than three decades, World War II veteran Howard Powell has been front and center to pay tribute during late veterans' funerals and on patriotic holidays, playing the somber sound of Taps on his cornet.
While Powell, 87, of Elkhorn, has spent many humble years paying homage to fellow vets, most recently, he was the subject of reverence when he was invited to join 91 other Chicago-area World War II vets in taking an Honor Flight to the nation's capitol to see the national war memorials.
"It was really quite a deal they put on, I was really happy to be a part of it," he said of the daylong journey June 23, recalling the show of support from patriotic Americans at Midway Airport in Illinois, and at the memorials in Washington D.C.
His was the fifth flight taken in 2010, with two more scheduled before the end of the year.
During World War II, Powell spent time in London with the Eighth United States Air Force training men on chemical warfare. He also played his cornet with a 12 piece band at American Red Cross stations and during dances.
On the Honor Flight, Powell was joined by his daughter Maggie, who said she applied for her dad's trip, after speaking with an acquaintance who had taken the trip from as volunteer just months earlier.
"He was so emotional about it, tears were running down his cheeks," she said.
Powell said without the recent trip, he - like many other World War II vets - would likely not have not visited the memorial during his lifetime.
"I think it's a very worthy cause," he said. "A lot of us would not get down there without a service like this."
Upon landing in D.C., the vets were greeted by sirens from emergency vehicles, the color guard - and a sound Powell knows all too well - Taps.
"It was really quite a big deal," he said.
Seeing the National World War II Memorial was "great," he said, describing the memorial that honors the 16 million who served in the armed forces of the U.S. during World War II, the more than 400,000 who died, and the millions who supported the war effort from home.
"Don't ask me how many stars was on it, there was a heck of a lot of them," he said, explaining that each star represented 100 casualties during the war.
While Powell said he enjoyed the camaraderie and appreciated all the support (he especially liked the "mail call" on the plane ride which included a number of letters from friends and family), it was his "homecoming" that meant the most.
Despite a two-hour delay due to stormy conditions in Chicago, Powell said close to 1,000 people with banners ¬ accompanied by laughter and tears ¬ draped the airport as past and present sailors, soldiers and marines paid homage to the elderly veterans. There were even musicians who played the bagpipes.
Even with all that, the biggest element of surprise, was seeing his grandson, retired Capt. Raymond Fleig, who was almost killed in Iraq in July 2007.
"It was completely unbeknownst to me," he said of his family's surprise. "It brought a tear to my eye when I saw my grandson when we got back."
Along with Fleig, his wife Tiffany and Louis, Powell's wife of more than 60 years, were present to proudly welcome him back from his expedition.
The entire experience was humbling, Powell said.
"I am sure thankful I got to go," he said, commending those who put the trip together.
"It was just marvelous how they put this thing on. Everything was so well organized, from the meals, to the transportation - all aspects were covered."
Maggie agreed.
"From beginning to end this was a great experience," she wrote in an email. "These people care about our veterans and honoring them."
The Honor Flight Network was founded in May 2005 by Earl Morse, a retired Air Force Captain, who saw the need for veterans to have the opportunity to visit the memorials. He recognized the urgency, particularly for World War II veterans. Veterans are flown at no charge and are accompanied by volunteers who facilitate the veterans' time in Washington D.C.
The latest trip was special because it was in memory of Commander Bill Burtner, a Viet Nam vet, who was raising money for the HFC cause. He was reportedly mugged and robbed while on his way to a bank to deposit funds that were raised for the same flight Powell took. Two days later, he died of complications from the mugging. Each trip costs around $50,000.
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