Table Salt: The greatest soldier
On October 15, 2022, my grandpa and I boarded the Honor Flight in Dayton. We arrived at 3:30 a.m. and were greeted by a plethora of volunteers. We were served muffins, fruit, juice, and coffee. When it became our turn to board the plane, a team of nurses paid careful attention to loading each veteran. Grandpa was seated in first class while I headed to the back of the plane to make room up front for the men and women we were honoring. Upon arrival in D.C., our plane was splashed with water by a local fire department as a special welcome to town.
Our first stop, by bus, was Arlington Cemetery. Grandpa admired the dedication of the guard on shift at the tomb of the unknown soldier. We took our time walking along the headstones and took in the sheer quantity in silence. Over 400,000 military men and women are buried at Arlington. At the next stop, across the highway from the Pentagon, we toured the Air Force memorial. This new memorial was a perfect place for the 102 Veterans on the trip to gather for a picture.
We moved to the WW2 memorial, where crystal clear water fountains splashed as a reminder of the celebrations that took place when the war ended. Grandpa was greeted by rows of ROTC groups as well as community members who said they hang out at the memorials on Saturdays in hopes of seeing Honor Flights. The bus dropped us off in a great location for our last stop, where we would only have a short walk to see the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, and Korean Memorial.
When I wanted to run up the steps to see the statue of President Lincoln, Grandpa encouraged me to go ahead and promised to wait at the bottom. We walked through the Vietnam memorial and saw many with our tour stop to point out names of men they knew listed on the wall who never made it home. As we approached the Korean memorial, Grandpa and I talked about how special this one was. He was drafted during the Korean conflict, having his life put on hold to serve our country. Grandpa’s eyes filled with tears as he tried to comprehend the enormous number of names etched in the memorial. He served and sacrificed for his country and always questions why so many had to die. We took a few pictures, and our walk back to the bus was quiet.
Grandpa won’t admit it, but he took a little nap on the way to dinner. A local high school, with classes of over 1000 per grade level, served us a three-course meal. The school’s ROTC and culinary classes hosted the event. The students took time to visit each table and hear first-hand stories from the Veterans.
Our last stop was the Ronald Reagan Airport to board a flight home for Dayton. The lead team for the event, including eight nurses, went above and beyond to accommodate every need of the Veterans. While we waited for the flight, music and dancing kept us occupied. The trip home flew by quickly with an old-fashioned mail call. The Veterans each received letters from home. My grandpa’s large envelope was full of notes of thanks. We truly appreciate each one of you who took the time to send the Veterans notes. Grandpa has continued to read his over and over.
After a 20-hour day, we were met with over 1,500 people packed into the Dayton airport hallways and lobby to welcome the Veterans home. The crowd applauded while the band played. Grandpa loved being greeted by his grandkids, as well as family members and friends. Through the opportunity to be part of the Honor Flight with my grandpa, I have learned about the many sacrifices that our servicemen and women made for our country’s freedom. Over the long day, I began to understand dedication in a whole new way.
Nothing can compare to what these Veterans did, many without a choice. Men and women were uprooted from their families, moved across the ocean, injured and wounded along the way. The bravery and dedication is only shadowed by the greatest soldier who ever lived, Jesus Christ. He walked on this earth and felt the sacrifices of necessity during times of struggle. Jesus knows what it’s like to not be appreciated and admired by people. He knows how it felt to be separated from the ones He loved and live a life of sacrifice.
Today, He has prepared a place for all those who love Him. Heaven awaits. No more drafts, war, or death. He has gone before us and made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can live in perfect peace for all of eternity. Thank a Veteran and show appreciation for all that they have done to protect the country we live in. Make time to be in scripture and prayer, for that is how you’ll get to know the greatest soldier who ever lived.
“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13.
Contact Ashley at ashley@tippgazette.com
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Tippecanoe Gazette
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