The Villages - July 2017 - 21

"I have heard taps on the bugle many times, but not like
I did that day," Walters said.
Walters has since taken 16 flights with the club, noting
each trip ends the same way: with the clock ticking away
18, 19, and sometimes 20 or more hours of travel, the
buses groan back to their starting point - the American
Legion. Veterans are exhausted; many are slumped in their
seats with eyes half shut. But when they see the spectators ..."They get a second wind," Walters said. "We come
down (County Road) 466 in the middle of the night and
spot the massive crowd of people waiting to welcome us
home. These days, it's not uncommon to see 300 people at
a homecoming celebration. You see the veterans perk right
up, and all they can do is shed tears."
What veterans don't know is that volunteers work for
hours prior to the bus' arrival preparing for the party. Firefighters come to offer their water cannon salute, and entertainment clubs,
such as The Villages Cheerleaders
and The Villages Twirlers, perform for
the crowd.

"It's an all-night affair," Walters said.
Although she is not a volunteer, Dianne Cina had an
experience with Honor Flight veterans when she was flying home from a visit with her daughter in Washington.
"It was humbling to see them board, and to hear the
captain introduce them to passengers," said Cina, of the
Village of Hadley. "Southwest (Airlines) makes a big deal
and everyone applauds. A gentleman played bagpipes as
we got off the plane, and when they got to the terminal, a
sea of people were waiting with flags and signs."
Cina said her father and father in-law served in World
War II.
"I enjoy reading about our veterans in the paper, so it
was a thrill to see the Honor Flight happening," Cina said. "I
was able to chat with a veteran who was very excited about
his trip; he showed me photos and shared his experience."

They waited
to shake the
veterans'
hands and
thank them for
their service.
- Liza Walters

MAGAZINE

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Villages - July 2017