Army veteran Norman Colburn was all smiles as he took a seat outside American Legion Post 347 early Thursday morning.
Colburn, of Oakland Hills, had just returned from Villages Honor Flight 45 and was taking it all in as the crowd applauded and showed their admiration for the 39 veterans who spent the day in Washington, D.C. seeing the memorials that are dedicated in their honor.
“It’s the most fantastic thing that one could go on,” Colburn said while standing next to his wife, Connie, and his guardian on the trip, Nancy Gilbert, of the Village of Tamarind Grove. “It was a very moving experience and it was absolutely super. I would recommend it to any veteran to come and be able to experience what I did today.”
Colburn called the entire experience unexplainable.
“You have to be there to see it,” he said. “I’ve never shook so many hands in my whole life. God bless all of the veterans and the people that support this.”
Gilbert, who was making her first flight as a guardian, said it was a day she’ll never forget.
“It was great to experience this with all of our veterans from here today,” she said. “The welcome they got everywhere, and the young people that were there today that came up and thanked them for their service and shook their hands, it was just an amazing day.”
Colburn’s niece, Donna Law, also was all smiles as she talked about seeing her uncle return from the Honor Flight.
“He’s been so excited about the trip,” she said. “We just wanted to be here to celebrate Uncle Norman and all of the other veterans and just thank them for their service and their sacrifices that we might have the freedoms that we have today.”
Colburn’s neighbors, Cathy and John Williams, were holding a sign welcoming him home. They said Colburn is like a father to them.
“He’s just a wonderful man,” Cathy said. “We had to come out and support him. He helps us with anything and everything.”
John, who served in the Navy at the end of the Vietnam War aboard a P-3 Orion hunting for enemy submarines, said he would like to personally thank every veteran on the Honor Flight for their service.
“It would be a whole different world if they didn’t stand up,” he said.
“Thank you for your service and our freedom,” Cathy added.
Meanwhile, Air Force veteran Gene Stief, who served during the Korean War, and his guardian, Joseph Steiner, of the Village of Fenney, had quite the reception waiting for them. That’s because Stief’s girlfriend, Maxine Crouse, of the Village of Lynnhaven, and Steiner’s fiancée, Sheelagh Martin, of the Village of Fenney, were holding signs that lit up and gained plenty of attention throughout the night.
“I’ve got a young girlfriend,” Stief said with a laugh. “I light up her life and she puts a sign out for me.”
Stief, who was identified as somewhat of a character, said he appreciated how the veterans were welcomed everywhere they went on Wednesday.
“It was unreal and I’m overwhelmed,” the Village of Country Club Hills resident said, adding that he was thrilled so many children came up and shook the veterans’ hands. “I had heard a lot about (Honor Flight) it but I had to see for myself.”
Steiner, whose father, Joseph William Steiner, was a Marine corpsman at Iwo Jima during World War II, said it was wonderful to see how touched the veterans were by all of the gratitude and thanks that people gave them. And he said the most impressive part of the trip was visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
“They laid wreaths and it was just beyond comprehension – something every American should witness,” he said. “And to see the commitment of those soldiers who have taken up the responsibility to guard that tomb and just the way they handle their entire lives and their commitment.”
As for Stief, Steiner called him a wonderful guy who was quite proud to serve his country.
“I know he was touched, even when he came out of the plane and all the people were in the airport cheering and clapping,” he said. “I think it caught him off guard a little bit.”
Steiner said he’d also like to thank all of the Honor Flight volunteers for making such a special day possible.
“Honor Flight is just an incredible organization,” he said. “It’s incredible what they do, how organized they are, how well-run this entire thing is and the commitment of all of these people. It warms your heart to see these kind of people and to be a part of something that’s so nice and wonderful.”
All told, 39 veterans participated in Wednesday flight. They represented all branches of the military and came from Altoona, Brooksville, Clermont, Eustis, Fruitland Park, Lady Lake, Leesburg, Ocala, Ocklawaha, Spring Hill, Summerfield, Tavares, The Villages and Webster.
The Villages Honor Flight is planning two more trips to Washington D.C. this year on Sept. 18 and Oct. 30. Two flightless missions for those who can’t make the journey to our nation’s capital are scheduled for June 29 and Nov. 23. For further information, visit www.villageshonorflight.org.
