As many of you know, Senator Dole’s 94^th Birthday is coming up this Saturday, July 22^nd. Senator Dole holds a special place in the hearts of the Honor Flight family. We thought you may want to help us make this birthday a special one by sending a birthday card or wish to the Senator.

Please feel free to share with some of their veterans also, as he would love to hear from them.

Mailing address:

SENATOR ROBERT DOLE
ALSTON AND BIRD LAW FIRM
950 F ST NW
THE ATLANTIC BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20004-1438

A short story from one of our volunteers:

I travel frequently for work generally somewhere between Boston and Tampa, FL. August 13, 2014 I was honored to be a part of a special flight. As I boarded my evening flight home I immediately sensed something about aircraft felt different. Was it a new plane I asked myself? Brighter lights? Less people? Friendlier flight attendants?

It was none of those things. The flight was eerily quiet. Our flight was escorting a fallen soldier home to Boston. There were three seats in the bulkhead that were roped off waiting for three young soldiers to accompany a fallen brother home to his family.  My usually “quick trip” from New York’s LaGuardia airport to Boston felt like one of the longest trips ever. As passengers we instinctively felt a responsibility to make sure this flight was made special and No one said a word. The flight attendants quietly went about their checklists but the passengers sat still and quiet reminded of the tremendous sacrifice this particular soldier have made on behalf of our country.

We eventually landed in Boston on a particularly damp, dark rainy night. As we approached our gate I could see flashing lights from what turned out to be firetrucks and police cars greeting our plane. As we pulling into our gate I realized what was going on — state and local police and firefighters were there to salute the fallen solider with their firetruck latter’s stretch as high as the sky and lights beaming even higher. You could hear a pin drop on board.

We knew instinctively to remain seated as the three soldiers accompanying our fallen hero stood up saluted the entire cabin, then proceeded outside to remove the casket from the cargo hold all the while 150 – 200 police and firefighters were standing at attention with their broad chests held high in the rain with their hats in their hands.

By the end there was not one dry eye on board our flight. For a brief moment we (the passengers) felt more like family than strangers; there for the young man who lost his life fighting for our freedom as a reminder of just how fortunate we all are.

– HF DCA Volunteer Katie B, July 2017

Learn about Civil War soldier and civilian life when FortWard Museum & Historic Site presents Civil War Camp Day on Saturday, June10.  The event is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Suggested donation is $2per person or $5 per family.  The program is weather dependent.

This annual living history event features military andcivilian reenactors in camp settings.  The program includes Civil War camplife activities, infantry and artillery drills and firing demonstrations,equipment displays, and civilian impressions.  Among the living historyunits participating are the 7^th Maryland Volunteer Infantry, Co. A,the 28^th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Co. B, the 1^stMinnesota, Co. D., and the 1^st U.S. Artillery, Co.D.    Special interpretations include a U.S. Army Quartermastertent, a Civil War sutler, a U.S. Army surgeon with a field hospital display,and a soldier in the reconstructed Officers’ Hut who will describe the dailyroutine and living quarters of a Union officer in the Defenses of Washington.

Fort Ward is the best preserved of the Union forts thatcomprised the Civil War Defenses of Washington.  The historic fortfeatures the fully restored Northwest bastion.  The Museum offersexhibits, programs and special events throughout the year.  Fort Ward islocated at 4301 West Braddock Road in the west end of the City ofAlexandria.  For more information, please call 703.746.4848, or visit www.fortward.org.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance withthe Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended.  To request a reasonableaccommodation or an alternative format, e-mail FortWardMuseum@alexandriava.gov,or call 703.746.4848, or Virginia Relay 711.

Alexandria remembers the sacrifice of American troops and celebrates its sister city partnership with Caen, France by commemorating the anniversary of the D-Day invasions on the beaches of Normandy with two events this June.

Please join us for the sixth annual D-Day Commemoration Event on Market Square in Old Town, Alexandria on Saturday, June 3. Beginning at 2:30 p.m., the program will include WWII reenactors, vehicles, and static displays; period music from “Blue Jazz” along with swing dancing on Market Square, and an official remembrance ceremony with Alexandria elected officials.  Children are encouraged to attend and all activities are free! A full schedule of activities will be available on the Alexandria-Caen Sister Cities website at www.alexandriacaen.wordpress.com[alexandriacaen.wordpress.com].

Bienvenue and à bientôt!

Contact:

Alexandria-Caen Sister Cities Committee– alexandriacaensistercities@gmail.com

Market Square/City Hall Plaza: 301 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended. To request a reasonable accommodation, e-mail Nicole.Quinn@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4554 or Virginia Relay 711. 

Observe Armed Forces Day on May 20, 2017, by attending a tour of Fort Ward, the best preserved of the Union forts that defended Washington during the Civil War, followed by a concert of Civil War music by the Federal City Brass Band on the Museum lawn.   The 90-minute tour will begin at 11 a.m., and the concert will be presented at 1 p.m.  Both activities are free, and no reservations are required.

Tour participants will learn about the construction and history of Fort Ward, and army life in the Defenses of Washington from a Union soldier interpreter.  The Federal City Brass Band re-creates the music and appearance of a U.S. Army regimental band of the 1860s.  Members perform in authentic dress and play original brass instruments of the period.  Song selections are based on original band journals and sheet music of the Civil War era.  The concert will feature a variety of military, patriotic and popular selections of the time, introduced with historical commentary.

Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site is located at 4301 West Braddock Road in the West End of Alexandria.  The Museum offers exhibits, programs and special events throughout the year.  For more information about the program, please call Fort Ward Museum at 703.746.4848, or visit www.fortward.org.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended.  To request a reasonable accommodation or an alternative format, e-mail FortWardMuseum@alexandriava.gov, or call 703.746.4848, or Virginia Relay 711.

Alexandria remembers the sacrifice of American troops as well as celebrates its sister city partnership with Caen, France by commemorating the anniversary of the D-Day invasions on the beaches of Normandy with two events this June.

On Thursday, June 1st at 7pm at the Lyceum the committee invites the public to attend a lecture on “The Battle for Caen, June/July 1944” with the Senior Historian to the Secretary of Defense, Lieutenant Colonel Tom Christianson, U.S. Army (retired). Learn from his expertise teaching Military History and European History at the United States Military Academy at West Point and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, as well as his time as aide-de-camp to the Commander Land Forces Southern Europe. A reception will follow the lecture.

$5 donation.  Advance registration is encouraged at shop.alexandriava.gov

Contact:

Alexandria-Caen Sister Cities Committee– alexandriacaensistercities@gmail.com

Lecture: Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314 703.746.4994

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended. To request a reasonable accommodation, e-mail Nicole.Quinn@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4554 or Virginia Relay 711.