George Ford Honor Flight

George Ford, accompanied by his daughter Pam Erickson was privileged to go September 18 -20 on the Utah Honor Flight with 65 other veterans from World War II to see the World War !I monument in Washington DC. It was a chance of a life time. The Vets were thanked in every airport by all of the people we encountered. We also were able to see some of Washington DC by bus. We flew into the Baltimore Airport. On Friday we visited the WWII Monuments where there was a Flag of our Heroes Ceremony and then had leisure time to explore the Vietnam Memorial, Korean Memorial and Lincoln Memorial. After lunch we went to the Air Force Memorial where we observed the POW/MIA Recognition ceremony which is only held once a year.From there we traveled to the Marine Corp Memorial (Iwo Jima) and Dad wanted to go across the street to the Memorial that the Netherlands had given us which was a large Belll tower in commemoration of the dropping on food near the end of WWII. Dad had participated in that during four food drops to the Dutch people who were starving. In 1985 he and his wife had been invited back to the Netherlands for a 40 year commemoration of that event along with 20 others from the United States Air Force and also some from our Allied countries. George was chosen to be awarded the metal of Liberation representing the United States from the Dutch government.
After seeing that we went to Arlington where we observed the changing of the guard. That night at the Hotel there was a large banquet where the veterans were all honored.
On Saturday we visited the Roosevelt Memorial and then went to Ft. Mc Henry. This is the fort that during the war of 1812 bombardment Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner. Then it was back to Baltimore and the flight home.
We were greeted in Salt Lake by a police and motorcycle escort over to a place where there was more than 2000 people waving flags and signs welcoming us home. The Veterans were award a gold Metal of Honor and given a large flag and a memorial book of the World War II monument.

It was a whirlwind trip but worth everything to all of those who were privileged to have been able to go. Dad was interviewed quite a few times and was on both KSL radio and TV if you had a chance to see him.