Every Day is a Bonus

On Saturday August 11, 2012, I was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the premier screening of "Honor Flight", a movie telling the story of the Wisconsin community coming together to honor veterans of World War II. 

The movie premiered in Miller Park, in front of more than 28,000 people in a celebration called "Field of Honor". "Honor Flight" tells the story of several WWII veterans in Wisconsin getting the opportunity to visit Washington DC and the WWII Memorial. It took too long to honor these men and women, most of whom did what they had to do overseas, came back (many having lost friends and relatives) and went back to work. No parades, no thank you's, just returning to life as if nothing happened. 

During the move, I was struck early on that most, if not all these vets really didn't talk about their experiences. Joe Dean, one of the Stars and Stripe Honor Flight founders, spoke about being in his 40's and never really hearing his dad speak about his experiences in the war. Mr. Dean's father was in early stage Alzheimer's and he knew it was time to get dad to start talking. Like most WWII vets, the elder Mr. Dean didn't talk about what he did. 

Among others the movie tells the story of Harvey Kurz and Joe Demler. Mr. Kurz witnessed the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima.  Mr. Demler was in the Battle of the Bulge and was captured by the Nazi's. His photo was in Life magazine when they rescued him. Google Joe Demler and "The Human Skeleton" to see a picture. Mr. Kurz's wife remarked that for as long as they were married, it was the first time she had heard the stories her husband told.

We are a free country today because of the heroic deeds of this "Greatest Generation" Too often we take for granted the freedoms that we enjoy. One scene in the movie depicts a man running on the beach, thankful that he can run freely on the sands of that beach, because of the blood that was spilled on the sands of beaches so far away so many years ago. And how, since then, men and women have sacrificed so much so we could continue to live with that freedom.

We forget sometimes, that there are others who would like to destroy our way of life. I guarantee you, Mr. Demler and Mr. Kurz, those that defended us then, and defend us now, will never forget.

The movie should be released soon. I hope you make the time to see it.

Every 90 seconds a WWII veteran dies. There are 115 hubs to Honor Flight. Chicago Honor Flight sends about 90 of these heroes every month out of Midway Airport. If you know a vet that should go, get an application and send it in. Make time to welcome these heroes home from one of their trips. Trust me, it is an experience you will never forget or regret.

Honor Flight Stars and Stripes Honor Flight

Mr. Demler, during his "stay" at the POW camp, and every day since, considers "Every Day is a Bonus". Maybe we should all live our lives like it is.