ARLINGTON, Va. – Lt. Gen. John B. Morrison Jr., the U.S. Army’s Deputy Chief of Staff, G-6, welcomed and recognized the service of 22 veterans during a ceremony organized by the Honor Flight Network at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, May 6.
“It is such an honor to be here with all of you truly great Americans,” Morrison told the veterans and their accompanying HFN guardians. “Thank you for all of your service, for all of your sacrifice, and all you have done for our great nation.”
The HFN, a nonprofit organization, transports American veterans to the memorials built and dedicated to honor their service.
Mr. Charles Russell, a Navy veteran of the Korean War, said visiting the memorials served as a reminder that his service was important to the nation.
“When you are in the service, you don’t think you are that important,” Russell said. “But then you come here and see how honored service members are, and it is encouraging. In my 88 years, I appreciate everything this country had to offer me.”
For Mr. Richard Jackson, who served in Vietnam as a Marine Corps corporal, this was his first time visiting the memorials.
“I always wanted to come here and see memorials that I had heard about my whole life,” Jackson said. “It brings me great joy. I can see and remember those that served before me, who set the standard for me. Then, I can see those that came after me and realize that I helped set the standard for them.”
Throughout the nation’s history, the brave men and women of the armed forces have put their country before themselves. Morrison told the visiting veterans that their legacy remains visible in those who serve today.
“I would ask you to think about something as you are here today and you see all these memorials, and these young Marines, young Soldiers, young Sailors, young Airmen, and young Guardians; they are your legacy,” Morrison said. “We today – our military – stand on the shoulders of giants. We stand on the examples you all set. You all showed us what service was. You showed us what sacrifice was. You helped make us the greatest military in the world.”
Around 16 million Americans served in WWII, 6.8 million in Korea, and 2.7 million in Vietnam. The HFN has 124 active hubs across 44 states that have transported an estimated 275,000 veterans since the organization’s creation.
As President Harry S. Truman declared in 1945, “Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices. Because of these sacrifices, the dawn of justice and freedom throughout the world slowly casts its gleam across the horizon.”
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