A determined crowd hung on through a long night to welcome home local veterans coming home on a Villages Honor Flight.
A delayed flight kept the group of 50 World War II veterans and their Guardians from returning home to American Legion Post 347 until 2 a.m. today.
Dance Fusion, Flashback and the Dueling Divas (Sue Schuler, Dawn and Ralph DiNome) and a dozen colorful Clown Alley #179 characters entertained the waiting crowd.
When the Honor Flight crew finally did return, sirens blared, and a motorcycle escort led the two busloads of veterans, Guardians and medical personnel to a patriotic welcome-home celebration. A Villages Public Safety Department firetruck
greeted the buses with a water cannon, and hundreds of people were on hand to greet the returning entourage.
“What a day this has been,” one veteran kept repeating to the crowd as they waved small American flags and welcomed the group home. A large honor guard from the post formed a welcoming column of military flags. It had been more than 24 hours since the group left the post.
Many of the veterans, all in their late 80s and 90s, stepped down from the buses with youthful vigor while others were assisted or helped into wheelchairs.
Debra Frey was there to pick up her husband, Gene, a Vietnam veteran who volunteered as a Guardian on the Honor Flight. “This was the first time Gene has visited the Vietnam
Memorial in Washington,” Debra said, “and it was a very emotional experience for him.” “We can’t control the weather, but this is very late,” said former Federal agent Mike Parker, a Village of Charlotte resident who was there to pick up his wife. Maryann Parker headed up the group of nurses who provided health services en route. “This was a very long and stressful day for everyone,” Maryann said, “but these are some tough veterans here, and they really enjoyed themselves.”
As a bugler played taps in the background, speakers welcomed the veterans. Each veteran and guardian was introduced by name and the crowd sang “God bless the U.S.A.