A trip to remember

Two days before his 85thbirthday, Sam Fowler, of Dunnellon, got to take a trip he says that he “can’t brag about enough.”

Michel Northsea

Robert Pascal, U.S. Navy, shows his neighbors and dear friends, Greg and Diane Burroughs a brochure on the World War II Memorial.

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Escort Medic David Hall, center, visits with John Klinovsky, left, and Kenneth Hall, right. Both men served in the US Army.

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World War II veterans Elizabeth O’Brien, center left, of Palm Cay and Ruth Brown are greeted by family members upon returning home from last week’s Honor Flight.

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Fowler was one of 104 veterans flown to the nation’s capitol last week as part of the Honor Flight.

The trip was the third Honor Flight leaving from the Ocala International Airport in the past two years taking veterans of World War II to see the memorial built in their honor.

“I was so thrilled, everything was well done, so carefully conceived,” he said about the day-long trip.

The morning started early for veterans, around 5:30 a.m., as they gathered at the airport, went through security and boarded the plane for Baltimore. At Baltimore, they boarded buses to take them to the National Monument Mall to see the World War II Memorial and Korean War Memorial.

Visits to Lincoln memorial, the Arlington National Cemetery, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and seeing the changing of the guards was also included in the day’s activities.

Ocala Palms resident Bill Stewart declared the trip as “very nice” even though he found the World War II Memorial “not as good as I  thought it would be.” He says other memorials for WWII veterans in Kansas City, Philadelphia and Hawaii are more impressive than the national one.

The trip also gave Stewart the opportunity to see his two sons and their wives when they met him at the memorial.

Bob Larsen, also of Ocala Palms, said he found the memorial to be “very impressive.” Understanding the use of the expression “Kilroy was here” during World War II he appreciated finding those same words engraved on the memorial. During the war as U.S. forces left one area to move to another, they would etch the saying somewhere in the area they had occupied.

World War II veterans go on the flight at no cost to them. Each flight costs around $70,000 or $450 individually.

Veterans in good health can make their trip even if they use a wheelchair.

Fowler noticed how well those in wheelchairs were cared for by those in attendance.

“They accommodated those in wheelchairs with kindness,” Fowler said.

“It was a good time. My mouth runs five miles a minute and I can’t brag enough about the trip,” Fowler said. “I met a lot of nice people and hugged a bunch of pretty girls.”

Fowler was referring to the wait staff from Ocala’s Tilted Kilt. The women came out both in the morning and for the welcome home ceremony that evening - sharing hugs with the veterans and collecting donations.

World War II veterans go on the flight at no cost to them. Each flights costs about $70,000 or $450 individually.

Organizers are planning a second trip this year in October. Donations to the cause can be made through:Florida Department of VFW with Ocala Honor Flight, in the subject line. Those checks should be mailed to Honor Flight Marion County, c/o Florida Department of VFW, P.O. Box 1630, Ocala, Fla., 34478.

Such donations will help other World War II veterans enjoy a trip.

 “It was a day I’ll never forget,” Larsen said.