Wiregrass Honor Flight ...we honor those who served...these are 'the' American heros

Story from Dothan Eagle

Slide show (see below) by Norman E. Hooben

Wiregrass Honor Flight vets return to Dothan
By Greg Phillips

Published: September 26, 2009

He had been awake and active for more than 14 hours, but 83-year-old Ozark resident Marion Casey had a spring in his step and a smile on his face Saturday night as he stepped onto the runway at Dothan Regional Airport.

Casey had just departed the plane after taking part in the Wiregrass Honor Flight, and he was greeted with a crowd of supporters that included active soldiers.
It was a night the World War II U.S. Army veteran had anticipated for quite some time.

“It was fantastic,” he said, his voice lifting with every word. “They treated us like we were kings, not soldiers. We went to Arlington National Cemetery, we went to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, we watched the changing of the guard, we saw Iwo Jima statues, and we even put a wreath at the Alabama pillar. We had a grand time.”

Many of those on the flight never expected they’d get a chance to view those World War II memorials.

“I didn’t think I’d ever make it, but I did,” said Navy veteran Roger Spooner, whose brother served in the war as well. “He was in the Army, and I was in the Navy.
He was in Okinawa, and I didn’t know it. We pulled into Guam, and neither of us knew the other was there. He came along on the flight today, so that was good.”

Ashford native Fred Fellows, who served in the Army Air Corps, had only seen the World War II memorials on television and in books before Saturday.

“It’s different seeing it personally than seeing it on TV or anything else. It’s really impressive,” he said. “Every one of (the veterans) should go. It’s worth it.”

Even those veterans who were hesitant about the trip ended up praising the experience.

“At first I didn’t feel like going, to be truthful with you, but it was amazing,” said James Shiver, an Army veteran from Brundidge. “I was overwhelmed by emotion.
Maybe I shouldn’t say, but I started to cry. I didn’t expect all this support. I never expected anything like this in my lifetime.”

It was an experience the family members who accompanied the veterans on the flight said they will cherish for a lifetime.

Ryan Richards, for instance, accompanied his grandfather, Earl Richards, who served in the Army.

“For what this generation did for us, it was amazing for me to get to see them and the smiles on their faces,” he said. “They may never get to see that again, so it was priceless for them and priceless for me to get to enjoy it with my granddad.”

Several city and state leaders were on hand, including Dothan City Commissioner John Craig, Mayor Mike Schmitz, State Rep. Steve Clouse and State Sen. Harri Anne Smith.

"When they came home, they didn’t have a parade. This is their parade, 60 years later, and I’m proud the Wiregrass would come out to support them like this,” Schmitz said. “Some of the veterans felt they didn’t deserve this attention, but they do.”

Army vet Sam Williams of Brundidge is one of those humble veterans, but he didn’t let his humility get in the way of having a good time.

“I’m not entitled to all this stuff, but I’ve enjoyed it,” he said. “The first thing that comes to mind is the guys who really caused that monument to be here, the guys who didn’t make it back. That puts a heavy feeling in your heart. But to see the people appreciate what those people did during the war just warmed my heart back up.”

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Slide show of today's event...enjoy. Norm