May of 2005, led by Ed Morse, a retired Air Force Captain, the first 12 Vets where flown to Washington in 6 small planes. Now just 6 years latter amazingly 81,000 Vets have made the flights to Washington DC to see the memorials that honor them.

This September I was privileged to be able to be the escort for two WWII Vets from Palm Beach, Pat and Harold, on a flight with 84 others Vets. It was an incredible experience for me and all the others aboard. I want to relate just one small part of the trip to illustrate the impact.

We deplaned in DC at about 9:30 on a Saturday morning and as we came out of walkway and around a corner there were 200-300 people, waving flags and saying thank you. There were children, motorcycle riders, mothers, grandparents, and so many more in this eclectic mix. As the three of us continued to walk it was obvious that emotion was boiling up, not only in Pat and Harold, but the other vets as well. Not to mention the tear in my eye. It was not until we got out of the airport and on the bus that I heard a peep from anyone.

I think Pat summed it up for many of the vets when he said "I have been home from the war for 65 years and that was the first time anyone ever said to me "Thank you for your service."" This was the case for all the returning vets of WWII. When they came home everybody in the country had done their best to help out in the war effort even if it was only saving their fat drippings and recycling their metal. So, when it was over and the job was done everyone just got back to work, to school, to life as it was.

Korea and the wars since did not have the total involvement of the country, and a population where many even held distain for the Viet Nam conflict. So returning Viet Nam Vets not only got no thanks, they were disrespected and therefore blended back into civilian society as quickly as they could. Ten or more years ago people began to understand that whatever the insanity of any war was, the warriors still served with pride, honor, and to the best of their ability and they slowly began to say "Thank you for your service." Until, by today, I can say I personally have been thanked hundreds of times. And here were Pat, Harold, the others on this flight, and all the other 81,000 as well who now had the blessing of this experience, being thanked for the first time. I remain contrite that I never understood how important it was to thank those warriors who went before us. I will do it from now on. Thank you for your service.

I hope during this holiday season everyone will make it their responsibility to say "Thank you for your service" to all the WWII vets you know. They do not have enough tomorrows to put this off.

Learn more about Honor flights and how you can help at www.honorflight.org.