Local veterans take part in Honor Flight
From left, are Randy Moose, Jon McElderry and Randy's brother-in-law, Steve Zulfer, at Arlington National Cemetery. (Photo by submitted)
By Lu Kahle
The 51st Honor Flight, organized by Eastern Iowa Honor Flight and sponsored by Collins Aerospace, flew out of Cedar Rapids Airport on May 28 to Washington, D.C., with 88 veterans and their guardians.
Due to the hiccups early on in their trip, they missed some of the morning tour, but that did not hamper the excitement of the day. The veterans witnessed some amazing memorials, monuments, Arlington Cemetery and the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Three local veterans on the tour were from Clayton County: Jon McElderry and Randy Moose, both of Garnavillo, and John Anderegg of Guttenberg.
I asked my husband, Jon, "What did you like the most about the tour?" He replied, “The most impressive memorial was the Iwo Jima Marine Memorial! It just leaves you speechless; it’s so impressive! It was great to talk to the other veterans too.”
Jon served in the Navy Submarines (Silent Service) during the Cold War, 1962-1970.
Randy served in the Air Force from 1972-76 during the Vietnam conflict. He was stationed in Germany as an aircraft repair technician.
Randy said, “The Vietnam Memory Wall and the
Reflection Pool looking towards the Washington Monument and the Capitol Building in the background. They were both moving moments for me. It was also great to have my brother-in-law, Steve Zulfer, (Omaha), to share in some of the experiences as well.”
Jon and Randy are both members of Clay-Gar Legion Post #723, Garnavillo.
John Anderegg served in the Army (1966-1968) during the conflict in Vietnam. He was stationed in Germany in communications.
John’s guardian for the trip was his daughter, Heather Hamm.
Heather said “My dad enjoyed spending the day with lots of others who had gone through the same experience he did many years ago and being able to come together and share memories. Throughout the day I heard so many stories I had never heard before. I acted sort of like a fly on the wall, just listening and observing. It was an unforgettable trip for us both.”
All three men agreed on one thing: the “welcome back home” they received as they paraded through the lines of people at the airport that greeted them, really "made us veterans feel appreciated!”
Also on the flight from Clayton County was Gary Bowden of McGregor, not pictured.
