Flight of Honor

By Lou Mintzer

One hundred and eighteen very patriotic people went to Washington, D.C. on Saturday, April 10, 2010. They did not go to complain, they did not go to protest the current political situation. They went to be honored for their service to our country and to honor their friends and comrades from World War II. I know they enjoyed their trip and I am also sure most shed a tear or two before the day was over.

The Veterans flew on a chartered USAIR jet. They were accompanied by 49 Guardians, three EMTs, and a couple of doctors. Six Brazilian students, part of a Group Study Exchange, made the trip to witness how we honor our veterans. Every veteran received a badge, a hat and an American flag.

Saturday night, there was a big enthusiastic crowd at the Charlotte Douglas airport to greet them as they returned. People cheered, flags were waving, signs were held up. Family members, friends and supporters kissed and hugged the vets and thanked them for their service as they made their way through the terminal. Tears flowed past the smiles as wives, sons, daughters and grandchildren welcomed their heroes home. My favorite sign said, “Paw Paw, You Are Our Hero!”

Thursday morning, a few days before the flight, I stopped by Richard’s Coffee Shop and Military Museum in Mooresville. The coffee shop is a place where veterans of all ages stop by for coffee, cookies and a chance to talk with friends and other vets. The shop was full and the conversation was lively.

I talked with Len McCutcheon, Army 77^th Infantry and Richard Keenan, Army Air Corps. They went on the flight last year. Len said, “One of the greatest things was when the high school ROTC saluted us and then cheered for us.”

Keenan smiled and shared, “One of the greatest things I ever had was when the crowd cheered and greeted us and shook our hands and thanked us.”

I met George Kalmar and Robert Kabel in the coffee shop. They were both scheduled to make the trip on Saturday and boy, were they excited.

I saw George at the airport Saturday night. “I had a great time, I couldn’t believe how well we were treated,” George said. He continued, ”They told me they would pick me up at 5:30 in the morning so I had to go to bed at 7 because I am on dialysis while I sleep.” George served in the Army Infantry. “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world,” he exclaimed with a big smile.

Mary Foreman, 88, from Mount Ulla, near Mooresville, was a Navy nurse at Pearl Harbor after it was attacked by the Japanese. She was all smiles as she was kissed, hugged and thanked as her wheelchair was rolled through the crowd.

Mrs. Foreman arrived in Hawaii late in 1943 after being recruited by the Navy and cared for the wounded soldiers in Quonset huts, (known as Hospital 128,) across from Hickam Field. She was in Hawaii until the war ended.

She came home and married Benjamin A. Foreman, an Air Force Pilot and Maintenance Officer. Her husband flew in the Berlin Airlift, served in Korea, Japan and Viet Nam. She even lived in Viet Nam with her four children until families were forced to leave. Benjamin retired as a colonel. Her son was a major in the Air Force and he married an Air Force colonel.

She told me, “There was a big reception at the Washington airport. They had a band and hundreds of people greeting us as we came off the plane. Everyone was wonderful.”

One of the highlights of her day, “My best thing was meeting Liddy Dole, she was so gracious. She greeted us at the North Carolina part of the memorial.”

(The Doles are very active and big supporters of the Flight of Honor. Robert is a veteran and was wounded in 1945.)

She continued, “We had lunch at a beautiful park along the Potomac, saw the capital buildings, went down Pennsylvania Avenue. I was really happy to see the Air Force Memorial. Washington was so busy and we were slow getting on and off the bus that I am sure we missed some things. The cherry blossoms were past their peak. But the trip was wonderful.” Mary was teamed up with Paul and George from Mooresville and their guardian was Jeanne Adams.

As I watched the families welcome their heroes, I had a lump in my throat and I missed my father, he died when I was 11. He was a veteran but never got into battle. He lost his hands in a training exercise explosion stateside. He never thought he got to do his part, but I think he did.

The main objective of the Flight of Honor was to give veterans an opportunity to visit the World War II Memorial that was built for them, to honor the 16 million people who served in the armed forces, the more than 400,000 who died, and those who supported the war from home. The monument was dedicated in May of 2004. Over 4 million people visit the memorial every year.

This trip was made possible by the Rotary District 7680. Karen Shore, the President and CEO of the Mooresville South Iredell Chamber is the Governor of District 7680. Shore was at the airport holding the Rotary banner and greeting the veterans. Shore said, “The families are amazed that when the vets return, they are talking and sharing as never before.”  We salute our heroes!

Be sure to check out even more photos of this Flight of Honor event at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Baby-Boomer-News

Revive Your ‘Inner Hippie’

By Julie Higgie, LNWC Habitat Steward

Remember the ecology movement of the 1960’s and early ‘70’s? Remember when young people longed for a simple life of food, co-ops, organic farming and living in harmony with nature?

Of course you do. You’re a Boomer, after all.

But then, what happened? Our idealistic fantasies were abandoned for a shot at the real world of earning wages and raising families.  Well, guess what—your “inner hippie” can again come out to play by creating your own Certified Wildlife Habitat in your very own yard.

Ecology is reincarnated as today’s “Green Movement” and once again folks are focusing on co-ops and organic farming, and thankfully, have added native plants and recycling to the mix of popular—and oftentimes, required—behaviors.

If today’s “sustainable living “ sounds to complicated to tackle, I have a suggestion. Start small by focusing on your own yard to create a Certified Wildlife Habitat.

Also known as Backyard Habitat Certification, this program was founded by the National Wildlife Federation in 1994 to plant the seeds of conservation and to help people realize they can preserve their very own piece of Mother Earth.

A few years ago, the program was changed from a focus on backyards to include businesses, churches, parks and other public areas, and even entire communities. But it’s still the same simple components. And now that the kids are gone and you have all that time on your hands, you can get involved!

A Certified Wildlife Habitat is a place where wildlife can find:

Food: seeds, fruit, insects, nuts flowers| Water: a birdbath, pond, simple (unembellished) water feature, butterly dish, mister, puddles, ditch| Cover: trees, shrubs, wood piles, brush piles, leaves| Places to Raise Young: nesting boxes, trees, shrubs, pond, ditch, rocks

It’s also a place where the landowner uses sustainable gardening practices to maintain those components, such as: Limit use of chemicals-Limit law-grass areas-Compost leaves and plant waste-Favor native plants and trees-Apply mulch to conserve moisture-Now doesn’t that sound easy?

While it might take some work to remove some of your grass—not all of it, I emphasize—and replace it with native shrubs, ground-covering plants and natural materials, you’ll end up spending less time mowing and more time enjoying the butterflies and other wildlife that come to visit.

Also, you will conserve water and discharge fewer fumes into the atmosphere.

Now you can place a comfortable bench in the shade of your native North Carolina Redbud or Flowering Dogwood tree and read “Mother Goose” stories to your grandchildren.

Or, you can add a hot tub to your naturescape and gaze at the stars.

Visit the NWF at www.nwf.org/gardenforwildlife to get more tips on attracting wildlife and www.nwf.org/certify to get your Certified Wildlife Habitat application. The low cost of $15 makes you a proud member of the NWF.

While you’re at it, go ahead and buy a yard sign from the federation that proclaims your status to your neighbors. You’ll be doing them and the neighborhood critters a huge favor!

Julie Higgie is a founding member of the Lake Norman Wildlife Conservationists, a chapter of NWF’s state affiliate, the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, LNWC holds free nature programs 7-8:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month, September through May, at Mooresville Public Library, 304 S. Main St. Contact her at jchiggie@yahoo.com for advice on gardening for wildlife. Visit www.lakenormanwildlife.org for information on LNWC.

Those Were the Days My Friend…

By Mary Ann Dore

I think I’m turning into an old and crotchety Boomer! I’m tired of watching yet another police squad use a battering ram to break down the door of suspected drug house. The Housewives of (fill in the blank) are not women with whom I’d want to associate. Watching the turmoil on another episode of John and Kate doesn’t make me feel good. Entertainment Tonight doesn’t entertain me.

When did reality TV and CSI become the standard fare of evening TV? When did hundreds of channels from which to choose help make my choice of the off button easier? Do the kids of today or even yesterday know what comedy without personal injury or off-color language is?

I want to escape from reality shows, I want to be entertained with rib-tickling, bellylaughing, side-splitting comedy. I want to be able to turn back time and let the pressures of my day dissolve in laughter.

I want to watch Vicki Lawrence and Harvey Korman make Carol’s shoulders shake as they veer from their rehearsed lines, to hear Goldie’s infectious giggle as she “Socks It To Me”. I want to hear Sonny and Cher’s banter and I’d even listen to Captain and Tennille sing “Muskrat Love” again.

I’d prefer to get the day’s news from Rosanne Rosannadanna, to hear Ernestine snort as she dials the phone and asks “is this the party to whom I am speaking?” I want to watch Flip as Geraldine exclaim “The Devil made me do it!” I want to hear Flo’s southern drawl exclaim “Kiss My Grits” again. I’d love to imagine sipping a beer at the bar and joining the other patrons as they yell “Norm!”

I want to see John Belushi’s antenna wiggle as he portrays a Killer Bee on SNL, or John Cleese lope up the stairs at Fawlty Towers. I’d love to laugh until it hurts at Tim Conway’s Siamese Elephants or Dentist’s sketches.

I’d venture to guess that with 90 million Baby Boomers in North America, I’m not alone in my longing for the return of the funny side of TV. The good news is that Hulu.com and YouTube provide the escape I’m seeking in short excerpts from some of the classic comedy shows.

What shows would you like to see return for your viewing pleasure? Inquiring minds want to know – voice your opinion in the comments section of this post or a post of your own through the Boomer Voices section.