A recognition of the importance of Veterans Day was the subject of the November meeting of the Hillsboro Woman’s Club, held at the Senior Citizens Center.
Following a delicious lunch served by senior center volunteers, Pat Hope, chair of the hostess committee, introduced Kathy West Holbrook, who shared her experiences when she accompanied her father, Pete West, on a trip to Arlington Cemetery. Holbrook also shared some interesting statistics about World War II veterans: at this time, approximately every three minutes a World War II veteran dies. They are dying at the rate of approximately 492 per day. Of the estimated original 16 million veterans of World War II, there are fewer than one million still living. All of them will be deceased by the year 2036.
Kathy and her father, who was a longtime Hillsboro resident and now resides in Lynchburg, were among a large group of veterans and their “guardians” to make the trip. The veterans all wore T-shirts that read “If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read it in English, thank a veteran.”
After their flight, they boarded a bus to go to the memorials. The bus was escorted by a large group of motorcyclists. There, they experienced the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. Many pictures were taken at the memorials and even children who were in attendance saluted the veterans and wanted to shake their hands. The veterans particularly were impressed with the Iwo Jima Memorial and the Korean War Memorial with its life-like statues and realistic surroundings.
On their return flight, their plane was greatly delayed. They arrived at the Dayton Airport sometime between 1:30 and 2 a.m. (hours later than expected), to find that marching bands awaited them, along with family and friends.
Travel expenses for both Pete West and a Korean War veteran Ray Hunter of Lynchburg were provided by a group of Lynchburg students in the FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) club. There is a waiting line for guardians to accompany veterans. Contact HonorFlight.org if interested.
The business meeting of the Woman’s Club followed the program with Helen Ford, vice president, filling in for president Mary Todd Hardeman. The treasurer reported a healthy balance in the club treasury and the card chairman asked for members to send cards to Margaret VanFrank and Eloise Moran. Twenty-three members answered the roll call.
Submitted by Gretchen Huffman, secretary.
