Mo's Manic Monday - Trip

Posted: Monday, April 06, 2009 by Travis Cody in
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Edit: Please visit my friend Julie at Julie's Jewels and Junque to read a moving tribute to her father, who was a decorated World War II veteran and who passed away five years ago today.


Welcome to another Manic Monday with Morgen. Don't forget to cruise by MM HQ at the Manic Monday blog. Today's theme is Trip.



One day I intend to take a trip to Washington DC. High on my list of things to see are memorials, in particular The Wall commemorating those who died in Vietnam as well as the World War II Memorial.



I've been anticipating this trip for a long time. There are certain things you put on your bucket list and you know you'll do them because they are that important to you. This is one of those things for me.

While watching the military channel the other night, I caught a commercial. I got my credit card and went to the website. Sometimes you just do that, you know?

The organization is called Honor Flight. From the website...

Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization created solely to honor America's veterans for all their sacrifices. We transport our heroes to Washington, D.C. to visit and reflect at their memorials. Top priority is given to the senior veterans – World War II survivors, along with those other veterans who may be terminally ill.

Of all of the wars in recent memory, it was World War II that truly threatened our very existence as a nation—and as a culturally diverse, free society. Now, with over one thousand World War II veterans dying each day, our time to express our thanks to these brave men and women is running out.


Every living WWII veteran should have an opportunity to visit their memorials. Honor Flight Network makes that possible with our contributions. If you are so moved, I encourage you to click the link. According to the website, funding is strictly from public donations.

29 comments:

  1. anthonynorth says:
    06 April, 2009 00:58

    I wholeheartedly agree with this. It is such an important trip. As for me, I've regularly visited the Cenotaph and Unknown Warrior in London in the past. Powerful symbols of Remembrance.

  1. Terra Shield says:
    06 April, 2009 04:13

    A country would never be what it is without the sacrifices made by the people who went to war

  1. Anndi says:
    06 April, 2009 04:37

    *hugs*
    Seeing as my daddy and uncle enlisted in the Canadian Forces during WWII, you know how this makes me feel.
    *hugs*

  1. DrillerAA says:
    06 April, 2009 05:17

    I've been to the Viet Nam Memorial. The WWII memorial had not been started at that time. It's pretty impressive.
    There are more memorials in Washington than you can possibly imagine, but I believe these two are so very different. One commemorates the "Greatest Generation" and a war that saved this world from the tyranny that was Hitler. The other attempts to honor those of us who served in a war that many would like to forget and no one want to repeat. One monument stand tall and proud for all of the world to see. The other is not seems to have been placed in the basement and not allowed to penetrate the surface of the earth. We must go down in order to see it. One stands gloriously celebrating the victory that was won. The other appears to mark little more than the loss of life on a large black slab. Every time we are now faced with the possibility of conflict we are told that it won't be another "Viet Nam". There was a time when that didn't really matter much to me. As I grow a older, I also grow weary of hearing that sentiment.

    Sorry, that just hit a nerve.

  1. Akelamalu says:
    06 April, 2009 05:41

    What a great idea!

    One of our daily newspapers is running a campaign for donations to help our soldiers who have been badly injured in Afghanistan and Iraq - because our pathetic government isn't looking after them! It makes me so bloody mad! Sorry about the rant.

  1. Durward Discussion says:
    06 April, 2009 05:51

    What a wonderful cause. When in DC I went to the wall. No one I knew was there, but the monument is so powerful that seeing a bouquet of flowers from a HS 20th reunion left for a friend just brought me to tears. So much sacrifice.

  1. Noe Noe Girl...A Queen of all Trades. says:
    06 April, 2009 07:08

    Great Cause.
    The wall will move you to tears.
    There is lots of history in DC.
    Enjoy your trip. Take tons of pictures.
    I hope to take Little T there on spring break.

  1. Ivanhoe says:
    06 April, 2009 08:25

    I went a couple of years ago and it sure was a wonderful trip that is still high on my "best trip list".

  1. ClancyPants says:
    06 April, 2009 08:40

    Awesome, Travis! Inspiring post. My husband feels such a kinship with vets. He loves to talk to them and delve deeply into their memories.

  1. Vinny "Bond" Marini says:
    06 April, 2009 09:52

    I also need to get there to visit the Wall. I know it made my dad real proud when they finally did a Korean war Monument and he got to visit it.

  1. katherine. says:
    06 April, 2009 10:30

    The Teamster and I visited "The Wall" last april...almost a year ago. Friends and family can look up individuals and print out pictures and many...MANY leave little mementos as the base under names. It was very moving.

    We tried to visit as many of the war memorials as we could. The Korea memorial was especially moving for us too.

    for me...Washington DC was an emotional visit...in a good way.

  1. Unknown says:
    06 April, 2009 10:30

    Thank you Trav! This is a worthy cause for all the reasons you and the others have stated. Time is truly of the essence! Presently, a lot of the Honor Flight Hubs have a backlog of applications of WWII Vets who want to visit their memorial. We, at Rocky Mountain Honor Flight(a nonprofit), are doing what we can to increase funding for more flights, to honor these veterans. This is their 'Last Hurrah' and they deserve all the honor! Signed, Jay, Pres. RMHF- www.rockyhonorflight.org

  1. maryt/theteach says:
    06 April, 2009 11:36

    Yes, Travis, I know about Honor Flight. My father never got a chance to visit the WWII memorial but I believe he would have been very proud.He went into France on Day 6 of the Normandy invasion and marched all the way to Germany... I just love that pic you have of the Vietnam Vets wall... I'm tearing up! :')

  1. Southern (in)Sanity says:
    06 April, 2009 12:15

    Honor Flight recently took a few groups from here to Washington to see the monuments. It was amazing to hear some of their stories on the news.

    I have seen the Vietnam Memorial and the Korean War Memorial. It was a dark, rainy fall evening, which made it even more somber.

    I would like to go back and see the World War II Memorial.

  1. Charles Gramlich says:
    06 April, 2009 12:29

    I'd like to see the Wall myself

  1. Thom says:
    06 April, 2009 12:31

    I have visited the Wall and it was truly an experience. Very awesome post

  1. Unknown says:
    06 April, 2009 12:52

    For those of you who would like to see the WWII, Korean and Vietnam Memorials,check with your nearest Honor Flight Hub. You can volunteer as a Guardian and escort a WWII Veteran back to Wash. DC and you too will have a chance to see all these memorials, while helping take care of one of the men and women of the 'Greatest Generation'! These veterans are sooooo thankful of everything you do for them. You will bond with them and have a friend for the remainder of their life! With most hubs you will have to pay a fee to go, in order for them to cover costs. Needless to say,it is an honor to do this for our Nation's heroes. Jay, RMHF

  1. Travis Cody says:
    06 April, 2009 17:10

    Anthony: The other trip I want is to the Normandy beaches.

    Terra: Well said.

    Ann: We know how important it is to remember and to honor.

    Drilleraa: I never thought of it like that, but now that you point it out I see how you could feel that way. I'm sorry. And you know that I thank you for your service and sacrifice. I read that the Honor Flight organization also assists Korean and Vietnam war veterans to travel to see their memorials.

    Akelamalu: Rant away. If we do nothing else, we must see that our veterans are respected and cared for.

    Jamie: My mom has been. She couldn't describe the feeling. We don't have anyone close to us who's name is there, but she said the tears started as soon as she walked up to it and didn't stop the entire time she was there.

    NNG: My plan is to spend at least a month on the east coast to tour DC, as well as Civil War and Revolutionary War battlefields. I hope to do it in the next 5 years.

    Ivanhoe: I think it'll probably be high on mine too.

    Clancy: I've picked up checks for them when I see them in restaurants.

    V: He should be proud, as we are proud of him.

    Katherine: I expect it will be for me too.

  1. Travis Cody says:
    06 April, 2009 17:11

    Jay: Thank you for stopping by. When I saw the commercial, I had to post about it. And thank you as well for your suggestion.

  1. Travis Cody says:
    06 April, 2009 17:14

    Mary: That's one of my favorite images of The Wall.

    Southern: I plan to schedule enough time to see as much as I can.

    Charles: Everyone I've spoken to who has seen it can barely describe the impact it has.

    Thom: Thanks for stopping by!

  1. Kanani says:
    06 April, 2009 18:49

    I've been to the wall. It's very moving. I was working in DC and talking to friends and suddenly we were there. The walk slopes down then up again, and as you're going down you feel the gravity and sorrow. Somehow the change in elevation brings it all home to you of the losses.

  1. Julia Phillips Smith says:
    06 April, 2009 19:20

    What a wonderful idea - and so good of you to let people know who may never have heard of it before. I'm certain there are many vets who wouldn't imagine they could visit memorials due to finances. At least this program makes it possible for those who find out about it.

  1. Durward Discussion says:
    06 April, 2009 19:32

    Dodgers won the opener. Yeah!!!! Go Blue!

  1. j says:
    06 April, 2009 20:42

    This was an awesome post. I am so thankful - and indebted - to our veterans and to our troops.

    Have a great week Travis!

  1. Amazing Gracie says:
    06 April, 2009 23:06

    Travis, what a wonderful post! I'm really teary because my grandson deployed last week, to Iraq. We have all placed him in God's hands, and trust he will return to us safely. (See my post of today) But for all of those who died so valiantly, they will NEVER be forgotten.
    Thanks for your tender and caring heart.
    ~~~Blessings~~~

  1. Desert Songbird says:
    07 April, 2009 06:50

    What a wonderful shout out, Trav! I love DC, and it's been many years since I visited, but I think every veteran should be afforded the opportunity to make this pilgrimage, without a doubt.

  1. Julie says:
    07 April, 2009 11:45

    Very good Travis! Thank you so much for mentioning my tribute to dad. I really appreciate you for that.

    I would have loved to have taken dad to the WWII memorial but unfortunately it wasn't finished until after his death. Just a mere 2-3 weeks actually. The image you chose for it is so striking!

    Jeff and I went to DC July of 04 and I sat near the memorial and just sobbed. It was a good cry though. At least Jeff was far enough away with the camera that my scrunchied up tear ridden face wasn't that visible.

    Thanks again for doing this and I hope you can make that trip in the very near future!

  1. Speedcat Hollydale says:
    07 April, 2009 18:58

    I did not know this org. existed, what a wonderful idea.

    ...and I whole-heartedly agree with you about Julie's post. I am still thinking about it.

    Hello from Speedy in Minnesota :-)

  1. Unknown says:
    13 April, 2009 18:19

    We went to Washington DC when I was in high school. I never will forget the Vietnam Memorial. Everywhere else in the city, people were laughing and shouting but at the VM - it was silent. Eerily silent. It made a huge impression on me and I was only about 17.

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