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Changing of the Guard
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Ed Dalley front row left
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Memorial to those lost
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World War II
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My Experience on Honor Flight Mission 114
By Edward J. Dalley Sr.
On Wednesday, April 9, 2025 we met at Sky Harbor Airport for Southwest Flight #146. We departed at 11:10 am for a 2-night, 3-day adventure in Washington D.C. Our team leaders were Diane Johnson, Lisa Rosetty and Todd Wais, and we were also met by approximately 20 volunteers at the airport. There were 27 veterans from the Vietnam War, 4 from the Korean War, and one from World War II. Of these veterans, four were women. I brought my son, Ed Jr, as my “guardian” to assist me throughout the journey.
Our leaders, Diane (a retired nurse) and Todd (current medic) were aware of all of my medical information should I have needed medical assistance during the trip. I was provided with a wheelchair, as I have difficulty walking long distances. Honor Flight thought of everything to make our experience unique and seamless. The
volunteers greeted us, helped us register, and provided the information and instruction we would need for the trip. There were refreshments available for us and we were given our boarding passes and ID tags. We had a special line going through TSA checkpoints, which made security clearance fast and easy.
Southwest arranged for our group to board first on this full flight. Not only did the other passengers demonstrate patience and understanding, but they also stood and gave us a resounding applause as we entered the ramp onto the plane. After all passengers took their seats, we taxied the runway and were off to Baltimore’s BWI airport.
Upon landing at BWI and taxiing to the gate, we were greeted by two BWI fire engines on either side of the plane, their water cannons ready to shower us with a welcoming deluge. We exited the airport and were transported by bus to our hotel. After we were checked in andissued our room keys, the hotel staff prepared a three-course dinner for us. It was an early start the next morning. After a buffet breakfast in the hotel’s dining hall, we boarded a bus for a very busy day! We toured The U.S. Navy Memorial Plaza, The Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial, The Nurses Memorial, The Korean War Veteran’s Memorial, The World War II Memorial, The Women Veterans Museum, The Air Force Memorial and ended our tour at Arlington Cemetery where we were able to witness The Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We were given boxed lunches to eat on the bus. While traveling from memorial to memorial, our bus driver/tour guide, Keith, pointed out many historic points of interest.
After the tour of the memorials, we were taken to the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars Post #160, in Glenburnie, Maryland for a lasagna dinner. Some of our fellow veterans were given the floor and related their experiences in Vietnam. These stories were very moving. After dinner, it was back to the hotel, as we had an early wake-up call scheduled the next morning. As we made our way through the airport, fellow travelers welcomed us with applause, “thumb’s up” gestures and salutes as we passed them. As in Sky Harbor, we were allowed to board the plane first and were given warm welcomes of applause and “Thank You’s”.
While in flight, our host and team leaders held “Mail Call” which was a poignant reminder of how important it was to those of us who were deployed to receive a letter from home. It was unknown to us veterans that Honor Flight had arranged this “Mail Call”, weeks in advance, with the help of our guardians, for family members and friends to write us cards and letters of thanks. The team leaders called out a veteran’s name and then gave them an envelope with the letters they received. As this was a very intimate and unexpected gesture, this was a very emotional moment for many of us. As of writing this article, I still have not opened a single letter because I know that it will be difficult not to get teary-eyed.
I want to tell every Veteran who hasn’t yet registered with Honor Flight to do so. It is an event you will never forget. Thank you again, Honor Flight and Mission 114.
**Honor Flight was formed in 2004 and has 130 chapters across the nation. There is no cost to the veteran for the trip. To date, 310,000 veterans have been treated to this once in a lifetime experience. You can Google “Honor Flight” for the chapter nearest you. The application is short and sweet.