Thanks to veterans

By: Letters to the Editor | Dothan Eagle
Published: May 20, 2009

Thanks to Cindy Tanton and John Gormley for their May 14 letters that expressed, so eloquently, what many of us believe. I have the privilege of knowing several of the veterans who made the Honor Flight, and they say words cannot express or describe their feelings as to what this flight meant to them.

When we thank a veteran for their sacrifice, we are thanking them for a way of life, for our freedom and even for our lives. I believe the only way to thank these brave men and women for the sacrifice that they made is to become involved in keeping the USA strong and free. We do this by studying the issues and certainly always exercising our right to vote.

I know I speak for many when I say how proud I am of Ashford Elementary School students, teachers and community for raising and donating such a large amount of money for the Wiregrass Honor Flight. I agree with their teacher, Ms. Pittman; this was a great opportunity for the students to learn something of the sacrifice these brave men and women made for us.

On June 6, 2007, my good friend Wilton “Bondo” Blackmon and I had the privilege of attending the ceremony commemorating the D-Day invasion at the American Cemetery at Normandy Beach.

Wilton was seated with the dignitaries for the ceremony because his brother was killed in action a week after landing in France on D-Day. The ceremony was very dignified and somber, befitting a setting that is the resting place of those 11,000 Americans. While walking around the cemetery, I noticed a group of young people placing flowers on various graves and was advised these men had given their lives liberating their particular village or town. A Frenchman gave me a leaflet thanking Americans for the sacrifice made by these men and women.

It is heartening to know many Frenchmen still appreciate America for the liberation of their country.

Like Mr. Gormley, I don’t apologize for being teary eyed or emotional when I see the flag or hear Taps played. That was certainly the case when I stood in the cemetery at Normandy Beach.

Thanks to everyone who helped make the Wiregrass Honor Flight possible. Thank you and God bless our veterans.

George Tatom
Dothan