Band of Brothers..

Around 30 World War II era veterans (including one woman) were welcomed back this evening in style here in St. Cloud at the Granite VFW. 26 Patriot Guard were on hand (including yours truly) to welcome back these heroes from their Freedom Flight adventure to Washington, D.C.. These veterans, free of charge, were flown to Washington D.C., to see the WWII memorial, as well as other war memorials. Chaperones accompanied these vets, some as old as 89 years old. The chaperones, as well as a videographer who accompanied the vets on their journey, each paid his or her own way, as well as for his or her own hotel fare.

The look of happiness and gratitude were on the faces of each one of these heroes; and heroes they are. But the folks who donated their own time and treasure to make it possible for these men to take part in this excursion are also heroes, in my book.

Upon their arrival, the vets were awarded with a certificate and a book of rememberance, and this passage from Shakespeare was read:

From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

-St. Crispin's Day Speech, William Shakespeare, 1599