Thankful for Honor Flight for World War II veterans
Editors note: This was a thank you letter sent to Hy-Vee by Glen and Lynn Smool of State Center. The letter details an honor flight trip a World War II took in November.
We wanted to THANK Hy-Vee and everyone that helped make the Honor Flight a reality on Nov. 4 for our World War II Veterans.
Glen and I got to see a wonderful man, Bob Strohm’s reaction to being a part of the Honor Flight. Most would think the reaction would come “after” the flight, but in truth the reaction started with the first knowledge of the trip and began to sky-rocket with the letter saying he was going to be a part of the November flight.
Bob is still walking on cloud nine, as is his wife Jody, whom traveled on a separate plane, but met Bob in Washington. When Bob and Jody returned home and got off the plane in Des Moines, we don’t think their feet hit the ground once.
What an awesome way to thank our WWII Vets.
These are Bob and Jody’s words about the trip:
It was a fabulous trip. I can’t even start to tell you how beautiful and emotional it was. When we left the hotel to go down to the Hy-Vee Center for dinner the first night. Every corner had men, women and children waving and holding flags and placards. They turned on the bus lights so they could see us wave at them.
I don’t think there was a dry eye on the bus. When we got to the Center there was every branch of the service standing in a row on each side with at least 25 personnel besides piles of people that shook the Vets hands.
There were ten to a table and I bet with all the invited guests they fed 1,600. It was a wonderful dinner and program and then back to hotel and bed. We were in bed at 8:00 p.m., but up Wednesday morning at 1 a.m., and we didn’t get to bed until 23 hours later.
The trip was great and they had ROTC and lots of Marines to help the veterans in wheel chairs. I won’t go into the particulars as lots of you have been there. They gave each man a jacket, shirt, stocking cap, cap with WWII on it, a case with a camera in it, a beautiful plaque, a pair of mittens and a bag with all kinds of goodies.
This money all came out of the pockets of the workers at Hy-Vee and people who donated.
We cannot begin to thank each one. Bob is so thankful for the trip. I only touched on a few things, but it was an incredible day, one he will never forget and he is still on a high. May the Lord Bless each person who had anything to do with the WWII flight.
Sincerely, Bob & Jody Strohm, Marshalltown, Iowa and Glen and Lynn Smool, State Center, Iowa
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