ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. -- Soldiers from Rock Island Arsenal escorted veterans of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War during an Honor Tour, here, Nov. 3.
Honor Flights are daylong outings where veterans fly to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials dedicated to honoring their sacrifices. A Flightless Honor Flight, now known as an "Honor Tour," is a similar event designed to accommodate veterans who are unable to fly by taking them on a day-long bus tour of local historical sites and landmarks.
Soldiers from the U.S. Army Sustainment Command and the First U.S. Army served as "guardians" who assisted and bonded with the participants, sharing experiences and stories.
"What an opportunity to get to know these veterans of World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam," said Sgt. 1st Class Heather Cejka, operations noncommissioned officer, G-3/5/7 (Operations), ASC. "I was just blown away to see what the day had in store for them, and to hear their experiences and about how different it was back then."
Cejka escorted World War II Navy veteran Lorraine Bromley, 95. Bromley said that her military occupation was "storekeeper second class."
"I was in 'The Waves,' that's the Navy, voluntarily during the war," said Bromley. "I was sent to storekeepers' school after boot camp down in Belleville, Georgia. Once that was finished, I went to San Diego for a few days while they got my future job ready. Then I went to Terminal Island outside of Long Beach, [California]."
Bromley said that while she was at Terminal Island, she served as a receptionist at a resupply store for Sailors who had lost their belongings in combat.
"Some of them were injured, some of them were not, and some of them didn't have hardly anything on their backs when they came, but they were resupplied there," she said.
Bromley said she enjoyed her time in the military.
"It was a wonderful experience and the memories never leave you," she said.
Cejka said she learned a lot from Bromley, and that she was grateful for the opportunity.
"It's been amazing talking with her and getting her story about the military back then," she said. "This is just an honor, and I hope I get to do it more in the future."
Bromley said the outing made her feel nostalgic.
"The day has been absolutely wonderful and revived a lot of memories," she said. "It was also sad in some ways, especially when they played taps. My husband was buried in the [Rock Island National Cemetery], and a space waits for me there too."
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Clifton Hill, information systems technician, G-6 (Information Management), ASC, said that everyone gains from events like these.
"They're both a way for veterans to feel appreciated and for the community to show support," he said.
Hill accompanied William Shore, a 90-year-old World War II veteran who was also one of the founders of the Honor Flight of the Quad Cities in 2008.
"He wanted a more 'peer-to-peer' relationship," said Hill. "He didn't want special treatment or unnecessary help."
Shore told stories about being in Germany toward the end of the war. He talked about seeing destroyed German airplanes along the Autobahn and about meeting British soldiers who ate cans of Spam "like ice-cream."
Participants began their trip with an 8 a.m. breakfast at the American Legion of Iowa Post 26 office in Davenport, Iowa. The group then traveled to Rock Island National Cemetery where cemetery director Sue Jehlen and Col. Kenneth Tauke, RIA garrison commander, welcomed them to the arsenal.
During a short ceremony at the cemetery, Christie Nevenhoven presented the flag of her husband, Ken, a Vietnam War veteran who passed away in September.
Ken, 71, died of lung cancer, which his obituary states developed as a result of exposure to Agent Orange during the war. Ken is buried at the cemetery, and the group held a moment of silence in his honor.
Students from Bettendorf High School sang the national anthem to open the ceremony at the cemetery. Several participants at the event commented on how well the students sang. The students were Jack Obert, Keaton Westerkamp, Ryan Fleming and Ben Tinsman.
The Quad Cities Patriot Guard escorted the tour bus to the island, and lined the walkway to the pavilion where the veterans attended the event's opening ceremony.
American Legion Post 26 fired a 21-gun salute, and members of the Bugles Across America played taps.
The group then took a windshield tour of the arsenal, and ate lunch at the RIA Golf Clubhouse. The RIA Credit Union paid for lunch.
After lunch, the bus tour continued to sites off the arsenal, including visits to Hero Street in Silvis, Illinois; the Davenport Memorial Park in Davenport, Iowa; and the Bettendorf Memorial Park in Bettendorf, Iowa.
The event concluded with a question and answer session between current active duty Soldiers and the veterans.
Cejka said the event was personally rewarding and important for the veterans.
"For them to have a day devoted to them, and all about them, just means so much," said Cejka. "They're not used to being honored, and for me to hear about their experiences and to see how they react when they remember -- I guess it just makes me feel overwhelmed."
Honor flights are free of cost to qualified veterans. Veterans can apply online at http://honorflightqc.org/application-forms/.
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