“It’s very hard for me to talk about the
war,” he said. “I lost a lot of friends over in
the Pacific Theater and I think about them
often. It was especially difficult for me sit-
ting in a Japanese POW camp in the
Philippines not only pondering my own
fate, but wondering if my buddies were
still alive.”
At AeroShell Square, an enthusiastic
and flag-waving crowd met the bus. Parked
there was an American Airlines 737,
N905AN by registration number. Printed
in large letters on the side of the fuselage
was Flagship Liberty. Below that it said,
“In support of those who serve.” The air-
plane was donated by American Airlines
for this flight.
As the veterans got off the buses and
walked toward the airplane, music played
and Civil Air Patrol cadets stood at
attention and saluted, as did current
military members and re-enactors dressed
in period military uniforms. Many of the
veterans saluted them back. Enthusiasm
and thanks abounded. There were brief
speeches of thanks, a moment of silence for
the fallen, and then Taps was played.
