Our Lady of the Greatest Generation

"Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid.  They have earned our undying gratitude.  America will never forget their sacrifices."

~ Harry S. Truman

To catch you up, my Grandmother is of The Greatest Generation.  As part of that Great Generation, she answered the call to serve her country in the factories that had been left vacant by the many men and young men who had volunteered their service to their country and the world in an effort to beat back the Nazis and their Axis of Evil.  My Grandmother worked in a factory that made and converted planes into bombers and became known as a "Rosie the Riveter" gal.  She and her mates worked hard to serve the war effort in the 40's. 

"They have given their sons to the military services.  They have stoked the furnaces and hurried the factory wheels.  They have made the planes and welded the tanks, riveted the ships and rolled the shells.
~ Franklin Delano Roosevelt

The last few years, a great organization called "Honor Flight" was established.  Their goal is to send veterans of WWII to Washington DC to visit their memorial.  It is a small gesture to recognize their courage, patriotism and willingness to sacrifice for the greater good.  This event is to help them feel the love and appreciation so many have for them...an appreciation many have forgotten over time, or an appreciation so many youth don't even understand. 

A few months ago, my good friend, Randy Tubbs, met my Grandmother and engaged in a conversation with her.  Randy is a very patriotic person and has only recently retired from the military  himself.  He has always shown a deep respect and admiration for those elders who have served before him and it is seen in the way he treats and talks about his Father-in-Law, Tom.  It was Randy's suggestion that we reach out to the Utah chapter of Honor Flight to see if there was a possibility of my Grandmother's participation as a "Rosie".  The female workforce was a HUGE part of the war effort at home and she is proud to be a part of that history.

"Women who stepped up were measured as citizens of the nation, not as women...This was a people's war and everyone was in it."
~ Colonel Oveta Culp Hobby

Well, the time finally arrived.  After a celebrated send off at the Utah National Guard offices, she boarded the plane and headed for Washington DC.  My Aunt Lynette was her escort and she did a fabulous job of not only being an aid and traveling companion to my Grandmother, but also taking and sending so many pics.  Here are a few.

Day 1:  SLC to DC

This is a poster my Aunt made for my Grandma to display.  It shows
my Grandma in her factory overalls as well as pictures of those others
in our family who have served, such as my Grandfather, Bill Bliss
(top left), her 2nd Husband, Herb Baldwin (top right) and her brothers,
Vernon, Elwood (Bob) and Lyle Johnson.

I really like this picture.  I am so grateful for parents who taught me to value
and respect my Elders.  Here a few from two generations behind me have been
taught to value my Grandmother, a person they don't know, for her service. 
Bravo parents!

This is such an awesome picture.  This young lady approached my Grandmother
and said, "I heard there was a 'Rosie the Riveter' on this flight.  You are the
reason I can do what I do." 

Another participant from the US Merchant Marines (A rare but very
important branch of the military in that war).

The organization worked very hard to make them feel special every step of the
way.  Even woke up the brass band early in the morning.  They also had a
trio singing Andrews Sisters songs so they could dance in the terminal!  You
can see that video below.

You may recognize she is the only woman there.  She is the first
Rosie from Utah and the first woman and the first non-veteran to
take part in the Utah Honor Flight.



Leaving the National Guard building this morning to board the plane
Washington DC.

 See Grandma dancing here: https://www.facebook.com/lynette.b.weber/videos/10208608587603629/

They had these patriotic bikers stationed
throughout the airport with flags to honor
their countrymen.  Very cool.



They have a rigorous schedule ahead of them so they have asked that they all
use wheelchairs throughout the days' travels. 

Some of the other honorees.

They really filled the day with fanfare.  Here is the live entertainment at the
terminal gate.  The Andrews Sisters Revived.

It's so nice that so many of our active duty military service men and
women made it out to pay their respects and share a smile with my
Grandmother and the others.  

Most know I'm from Scottish heritage.  Most probably do not know that my
Grandmother hates bagpipe music.  HAHA!  We found out this Summer when
we took her to the Orange County Scottish Festival.  "It sounds like a bunch
of racket!", I believe were her exact words.  :)  Nonetheless, the pipers were
also present to pay their respects.

She's off!  Next stop, Washington DC!

One part of The Honor Flight was to have family write letters to Grandma
prior to her flight.  When they were well into the program, they would have
a mail call similar to those mail calls the veterans looked so forward to
during their service.  Here, Grandma is reviewing some of the many kind
words of admiration she received from the mail call.

Mail Call!  Bliss!  Johnson!  Baldwin!

There was a catered dinner at the hotel when they arrived.  Looks like they
were well cared for in their travels. 

Aunt Lynn, Grandma, Theresa Johnson.



 Day 2:  Washington DC

I don't know who is having more fun, Grandma or Aunt Lynnette being her
escort!  Aunt Lynnette said it was warm there.  Temps in the 90's and humid,
I'm sure.  Hopefully the busses had good A/C.

Grandma was nice enough to stop and let this civil worker get a pic with her.
Grandma and Senator Orin Hatch of Utah.

It was a long and hot day filled with festivities.  For this reason, they kept the
veterans (and Grandma) in wheelchairs.  It looks like they found them some
nice shade too while visiting the Korean War Memorial. 

What a great opportunity for my Aunt Lynette to escort Grandma on
this trip.  She took the responsibility very serious and is very grateful.
The rest of us are just jealous!  ;)

No it is not.  I am eternally grateful for those men and women
who have served and continue to serve so that our freedom
might be preserved and so that others might taste of it.

Grandma at the Korean War Memorial for a photo op.

Thanks to my Aunt Lynette for posting pics of their trip in
relatively real time so that I can share them all with you.  I
haven't heard her narrative yet, but it appears they stopped to
have lunch at the FDR Memorial.  

Something today's politician is all to quick to forget. 

I think Grandma challenged FDR to a wheel chair wheelie competition, but he
wasn't having it.  



"We have faith that future generations will know that here, in the middle of the Twentieth Century, there came a time when men of good will found a way to unite and produce and fight to destroy the forces of ignorance and intolerance and slavery and war.
~ Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Grandma hanging with Eleanor Roosevelt. 

The depression era breadline.  To hear Grandma talk about the Depression,
watch episode 1 of Games with Grandma found here and here.  

Next they were treated like royalty at the Maritime Memorial.  I think
this is super cool because we hear little about that branch of the
service and what they do.  The truth is, without the Merchant Marines,
we would have likely lost the war.  

I had thought that Grandma was the only woman and non-veteran.  I'm interested
to learn more about Gladys sitting next to Grandma. 

As with everywhere they went, the Navy treated them with such honor and respect.  You can see the Naval Drill Team here:  https://www.facebook.com/lynette.b.weber/videos/10208608775128317/

A sculpture capturing a family gathered around the radio listening to the
President's address regarding the bombing of Pearl Harbor. 

World War II Memorial - The Jewel of the Mall

I don't know if this was done by design or by chance, but this is a cool
picture because the columns in the back are of South Dakota and
Colorado...where my Grandmother was born and raised and where
she ended up. 

This picture evokes such great emotion in me.  To see these men who gave so
much and watched their comrades next to them give all, still display their love
and pride for their country 7 decades later.  We should all take note of this.

As with everywhere else they went, they were greeted with fanfare, none so
great as they received at the WWII Memorial. 

The entire group - Utah Honor Flight - September 2016.  Thank you for your
service.

Reflections

Day 3: DC and Home

This kind lady was in charge of the entire trip.  In her closing remarks she was
so emotional and filled with love and gratitude for the service of my Grandma
and those men who served in WWII and Korea.

This is another volunteer who helped the trip to be a success.

The volunteers

Exhausted and fulfilled, they head for home.

 

Welcome Home, Grandmama!

 

The welcome home for Grandma and the veterans had as much fanfare as their departure.  The families of all those who embarked on this great adventure, all met at the armory of the Utah National Guard in Salt Lake City near the airport.  The busses containing the veterans were escorted by The Honor Guard.  For those who are not aware, The Honor Guard are bikers (many veterans themselves) that ride along side and stand along side parade routes of those fallen soldiers or veterans returning from war.  They were organized (I believe) in response to some of the negative protesting that some fanatical groups put together to disrupt funerals and homecomings.  These patriotic bikers were all very friendly and appreciative of their elders that served our country.  Once The Honor Guard members had escorted the busses holding the veterans back to the Armory, they then lined the walkway with flags to give the veterans the red carpet treatment. 

 

Many had signs, balloons or flowers to show their support for their family member and the others.  Our family made signs the night before and we eagerly lined the walkway with them.  "Vee is for Victory", "Welcome Home, Gramma Gramma", and "Your Family Honors You", were just a few of the signs for Grandma.  As each veteran was pushed in their wheelchair by their chaperone, everybody cheered and clapped.  Many saluted and some cried.  I did my best to let each veteran know as they passed that I appreciated their service and wanted to welcome them home. 

 

In spite of the long trip and the jam packed previous 3 days, these elders (including Grandma of course) were beaming with glee as their smiles spread across their faces.  Their energy was at peak levels and it was a touching moment to witness and be a part of.  After they completed their trip through the gauntlet of admirers and family, we all gathered in the gym for final presentations.  There the volunteers recognized a few who contributed to the event, including a few Scouts that had used the event as a very worthy Eagle Scout project.  They gave each veteran and Grandma, a flag, a book and a souvenir of their trip and a heartfelt "Thank you".

 

After the presentation, we gathered near Grandma to give her hugs and welcome her home ourselves.  It was fun to witness others appreciating Grandma's service and recognizing what a special person she is and what a great generation she is a part of.  One young lady came up with her friend or partner and both expressed gratitude to Grandma for her service and felt it was due to her service that they were now able to serve in the armed forces for their country. 

 

It was an awesome night.

 

"Your Family Honors You Too".  This was a doodle made by Dax that Grandma was able to
turn into a butterfly. 

"Hurrah 4 Veora the Riveter".  Sarah made this sign. 

"Welcome Home Grandma Grandma"  This sign was made by me and Leah. 

These two signs were the creative works of Leah.

"Vee is for Victory"!  Sarah made this banner.  My Grandma's name is Veora,
but many simply call her, "Vee".



Leah and Dax trying to stay warm.



Leah, me, Sarah, Aunt Susan, Dax and Mom all getting ready for their arrival.

"Killroy Was Here"

The arrival of The Honor Guard

Grandma arrives.  It was so dark out that she couldn't even really see the signs that well.

Dax loves Aunt Susan who treated him to a ride on her shoulders while looking for
Gramma Gramma, or "Two Grandmas" as Dax calls her.

A couple military patriots sought out Grandma so they could express their
gratitude to her. 

Welcome Home Grandma!

L to R:  Leah, Aunt Susan, Grandma, Me, Sarah, Mom, Dax, Lynette & Ray.

 

 To those who supported Grandma in this great opportunity, I say, "Thank you".  Thanks to Mom for supporting her in everything she does.  Thanks to Aunt Lynette for supporting her on the trip and sending so many pictures. Thanks to Randy Tubbs for his service, his patriotism and his suggestion to get Grandma on this flight.  Lastly, thanks to Grandma for being such a mover and a shaker throughout life.  Please feel free to look at some of the videos I've included in other posts where I discuss things like the war as I interview my Grandma.