“We can’t all be heroes, some of us have to stand on the curb and clap as they go by.” Will Rogers
This past week my Grandpa and my mom headed off to Washington DC to go on an Honor Flight with other veterans of WWII and see the WWII memorial for the first time. Yesterday we got to welcome them home from their trip, along with a full honor guard and tons of people!
I didn’t know what to expect, but the tears in the soldiers eyes as we clapped for them filing past us, shaking hands, smiling, taking our pictures, thanking us for being there. But really, we were thanking them. For all their service, sacrifice and honor that may seem like a distant past to many of us, but when you stop and think of the freedom that we attribute to them, it’s astounding what an important role these men played in our lives and for generations yet to come.
We had a great group there from our family to celebrate my grandpa, 29 of 50 were able to come and cheer him on! 30 if you include this little baby that still hasn’t thought it time to show up for the party yet.
I haven’t gotten to hear too many stories yet about the trip, they saw a ton and looked like they were ready for a rest by the time they hit Portland Airport. But one of the coolest things they did do, was a mail call on Saturday night. My grandma said that mail call for the service men was the most looked forward time of the day. All of us family members wrote letters to grandpa and to other veterans thanking them for all they have done for us.
And one of the best things they did for us was sing “God Bless America” right there in the Portland Airport, it was incredible!
Vetrans singing, “God Bless America”
My grandparents were married right before my grandpa went off to the war. They are both 90 years old, have been married for 70 years, and have 50 people in our family to show all of life they have lived.
Thank you to all of you who serve to keep our country safe, we can never say it enough!!
NuttyGrass 
What a privledge and honor to be there to welcome home Grandpa Marlin. Thank you Brenda for sharing this important story with us all.
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Way cool! How proud the entire family must be. Freedom isn’t free, thank a vet. God Bless Them!
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Knowing your grandparents for the past 20+ years has been an honor and reading your blog this morning made me so proud of them and even more blessed to have them in our lives. Beth & Jim
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