By TR Robertson
Hundreds and Hundreds of San Diegans lined the areas by the Baggage Claim Section of Terminal 2 of the San Diego International Airport on Sunday as they awaited the return of 90 WW II, Korean and Vietnam Veterans and their Guardians, returning after a weekend adventure to the Monuments and Memorials in Washington, D.C., dedicated to service men and women who have served in the military of the United States of America. Most of those in attendance had arrived several hours earlier to prepare for this celebration. Many had homemade signs, balloons and banners to welcome the veteran’s home. The expected arrival time of their Alaska flight was 1:15 pm.
Arriving early, this reporter was directed to Gary Zeugschmidt, Welcome Home Coordinator, who directed me to the Alaska Air check-in to get a Priority TSA Entrance slip allowing me to go through security and proceed to Gate 34 where the Veterans Alaska Air flight would unload the passengers. This gate is directly across from the elevator and escalators that would take the veterans and their guardians down to the waiting crowd of people anticipating their arrival and to their baggage claim area. Arriving hours early, I was able to watch as the crowds built below and got a chance to speak with some of the Navy personnel that would be forming the “side boys” formation the veterans would walk through for their first welcome home greeting. This group of Navy personnel was made up of members of the Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 41 from North Island. This is 8th year this group has been involved in welcoming the Honor Flight San Diego veteran’s home.
As the crowd below continued to grow you could see family members, veterans from previous Honor Flight San Diego trips, veterans who just wanted to welcome them home, veteran groups who traveled together to the airport (like the Combat Veterans Association), and San Diegans who wanted to be part of the welcome home festivities. Patriotic music played in the background as people began to line up creating a long corridor for the veterans and guardians to walk through. Lots of signs, American flags, balloons and people dressed in red, white & blue could be seen.
The Alaska Air flight arrived a little early and as the plane taxied in, Gary led the large crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance and then introduced a young lady who sang a beautiful version of the National Anthem. He then led cheers to get the crowd ready for the arrival of the veterans. Squadron 41 came to attention and held a salute for all the veterans as they began to enter the airport waiting area for Gate 34. The first group of veterans and guardians to be seen were those in wheelchairs. One of these included 98-year young WW II veteran Donald Hall and his guardian, daughter Janet. These veterans would be taking the elevator down to the waiting crowd. Shortly after this, those veterans who did not need wheelchair assistance began to appear and go down the escalator. The noise level rose as cheers, applause and waving of signs and flags began to explode below. The veterans waved to the crowd, hugged many, shook hands, saluted and were obviously shocked, surprised but pleased with the reception they were getting.
This Honor Flight San Diego event is a twice-yearly celebration for veterans, one of the Honor Flight Network events which consists of over 100 other Honor Flight hubs in the U.S.
A follow-up article will consist of an interview of several North County Honor Flight San Diego veterans who took part in the September Honor Flight trip.
