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Interesting Memorial Day for vets


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Convoy honoring veterans along the way to Vietnam Memorial

 

By Shirley Downing (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

 

Rob Meister was 7 when his dad's Army helicopter was shot out of a Vietnam sky.

 

On Monday Meister, now 45, handed two patches from his late father's uniform to the pilot of a Vietnam-era helicopter minutes after the chopper landed in Bartlett. Meister asked the pilot to carry the badges with him to Washington.

 

'"I just wanted his patches to go off on another flight," Meister said as his voice shook, his grandson, Kris Meister, 3, at his side.

Hannah Johnson, 15, of Hernando, hugs Vietnam veteran Joe Lee at W. J. Freeman Park in Bartlett shortly after a OH-58 Kiowa helicopter landed at the park. The helicopter is part of a national convoy traveling across the country en route to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington for Memorial Day.

 

Hannah Johnson, 15, of Hernando, hugs Vietnam veteran Joe Lee at W. J. Freeman Park in Bartlett shortly after a OH-58 Kiowa helicopter landed at the park. The helicopter is part of a national convoy traveling across the country en route to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington for Memorial Day.

 

Meister and about 150 other Mid-Southerners gathered in Bartlett's Freeman Park Monday to see a Vietnam-era helicopter land for an overnight visit. The helicopter is part of the "Flight to the Wall" convoy

traveling from California to Washington for a May 25 ceremony at the Vietnam War Memorial.

Many of the visitors wore police or military uniforms, or were members of veterans' groups, along with their families.

Rolling Thunder motorcycle riders, who are veterans, wore jeans, black T-shirts and black leather vests with military insignias to show their patriotism. Members of the Paralyzed Veterans of America were in wheelchairs.

The veterans saluted as the camouflage-colored OH58 Kiowa set down on the park grounds, its spinning blades sending particles of grass and clouds of dust flying across the park.

 

"I think it's awesome," Vietnam Army veteran Bob Harris, 61, of Memphis said of the event.

Others agreed. "It's about time Vietnam vets got a break," said Bob Colalasure, 58, who served in the Navy in Vietnam.

"I think it's the greatest thing to travel like this to the Wall," said Sonny Taylor, 64, a Navy veteran

One helicopter arrived shortly after 2:30 p.m. instead of two helicopters, as had been planned.

Four refurbished helicopters owned by Wings & Rotors Air Museum in Murrieta, Calif., were scheduled to make the cross-country trip from California, but one did not gain clearance, and two ran into mechanical trouble, said pilot Tom Woehl of San Diego.

A separate convoy of Flying Thunder members on motorcycles and other vehicles are driving to Washington to participate in the ceremony.

About 30 local Rolling Thunder members at the park arrived on Harleys and Yamahas with flags tied to the handlebars.

They were mostly men with gray or thinning hair and builds slightly heavier than they were in their youth. Some said they weren't able to go on to Washington but would be there in thought.

Vietnam Army veteran Joe W. Lee, 67, yelled "Here it comes," as he hopped off the back of a pickup and walked swiftly to the edge of the park, clapping his hands, and then raising his right arm in a salute as the helicopter landed.

As for Meister, he said he'd been planning the day for months, and was glad to be able to see his father's badges again take flight.

"It is my personal tribute," he said.

post-4547-1226101828.jpeg

 

Chris Meister, 3, peers into a OH-58 Kiowa helicopter while his grandfather, Rob Meister, looks on at W. J. Freeman Park in Bartlett. Rob's father, Bernard Meister, was killed in action while flying a helicopter during the Vietnam War. He gave patches from his father's uniform to Flying Thunder pilot Tom Woehl to take for one last flight and leave at the Vietnam Memorial.

 

Note Reporter did not know difference between patches and badges

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