Fifty weary warriors returned home in the wee hours Monday morning, after a whirlwind trip to the war memorials in Washington D.C.
The 25 World War II veterans and their 25 proud Marine Corps guardians were the latest to embark on Villages Honor Flight.
Ninety-year-old Sam DiPietro said the trip was unlike anything he’d ever experienced.
“It was amazing. There are no words to describe it,” said the D-Day veteran who was in a tank in the first wave at Normandy.
His guardian on the trip was Joel Shelko of the Village of Mallory. Honor Flight guardians are responsible for seeing to the needs of the World War II vets on the trip.
Eighty-eight-year-old Village of Calumet Grove resident Bill MacNeill was met at the welcome home ceremony at American Legion Post 347 by his wife, Leitha, and daughter, Darlene Bell.
MacNeill, who served in the U.S. Army in the South Pacific, joked with fellow Honor Flight traveler Norm Polkinghorn of the Village of Alhambra.
“Do you think you’ll be able to sleep?” MacNeill said as he elbowed Polkinghorn, who also served in World War II.
The buses carrying the Honor Flight travelers were escorted in by the Village Nomads motorcycle group. The Village Public Safety Department had trucks on hand providing a water gun salute.
The Villages Twirlers and the Villages Cheerleaders energized the crowd with patriotic entertainment.
The laughter and joy of the rousing event provided little insight into the bonds the men had formed on the once-in-a-lifetime trip.
“That’s for me and him,” DiPietro said as he stuck his thumb back at his guardian.
In return, Shelko patted DiPetro on the shoulder.
DiPietro’s neighbors from the Village of Bridgeport at Lake Sumter, Bill and Jane Lindemeyer, said they came out to support their friend.
“What these guys did? It’s the least we could do but to come out here and welcome them home,” said Bill Lindemeyer.
You watch a 1-minute video from the homecoming celebration at the link below:
http://villages-news.com/villages-honor-flight-welcome-home-sept-8-2013/
