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JBAB Hosts Honor Flight Veterans

  • Published
  • By Eric Ritter
  • Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Public Affairs
Washington, D.C. --  Four times a year, Honor Flight Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) brings walking history from World War II and the Korean War to Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. Four times a year, members of the JBAB community and tenant commands roll out the welcome wagon and the handshakes of thanks to these veterans.

The latest, which arrived Oct. 1, were greeted by command from the 11th Wing as well as the Air Force Band who treated the veteran visitors and their Honor Flight volunteer escorts to some familiar World War II-period music performed by the band's Airmen of Note section.

Air Force Capt. Daniel Boothe, Air Force Band assistant director of operations, who comes from a long line of military family members, said it is always a privilege to see the band have the opportunity to perform for DFW Honor Flights.

"Today, this is about you. This is about service. You are here, because you are a very important part of our history here at JBAB when it was referred to as Bolling Air Field a long time ago."

He continued to explain that the room they were performing in was dedicated to former Air Force Band Director, Col. Arnald Gabriel, who still conducts around the country today, and was also a machine gunner during the Normandy Invasion in World War II.

The visit happened to fall on the Air Force Band's 75th anniversary, tracing their history back to the days of the Army Air Corps and World War II as well.

For Honor Flight DFW President Tudy Giordano, working with these groups of veterans never gets old.

"It's such an experience for us to watch the joy in their faces," she said. "They just turn into young men and women when they hear these songs being played. You would think they were kids again if you could just see that joy in their eyes. It's like they're on a high school trip and just having a blast."

June Smith, a former U.S. Navy WAVE (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service), who taught Navy aircraft carrier pilots how to read instrument panels in order to land on a moving flight deck, reflected that sentiment.

"This has been very rewarding," she said. "It took me back to my days as a youth. It was really fantastic to hear that melody and that emotion that went along with it."

Her husband, Haskell, who was also a flight instructor in the war, said he was honored to be treated to the visit to JBAB.

"This has been amazing," he said. "I'm glad I got to enjoy this with my wife. I'll never forget this opportunity."

There were 40 veterans in all, and every branch of service was represented. Giordano said having all services in attendance is rare, because there are so few Coast Guardsmen still able to make the trip.

The visit also welcomed a Rosie the Riveter. Rosie the Riveters were women who worked assembly lines for the military production output that was a large factor in the Allied victory.

The partnership between the Air Force Band and DFW Honor Flight only goes back to 2013 when the band's travel expenses saw budget restrictions canceling many of their regularly scheduled trips. However, that turned into a fortuitous event where the Honor Flight veterans are able to visit the military history at JBAB and the band is able to cater a more personal show.