The Williams County Genealogical Society met Monday, November 14, 2016 in the Harmon Room of the West Annex, Bryan Public Library.
Roena Bayers, a WWII veteran, gave a talk about her Honor Flight to Washington D.C. At 98, she was not the oldest woman on the flight.
Honor Flight is a national nonprofit organization; the flies veterans for free to see the nation’s memorials. Each costs about $60,000, the guardians and volunteers pay their own way — this flight was under-written by the city of Westerville’s Honor Flight Committee. From first airport check-in until it was wheels-down again in Columbus for Southwest Flight 8248, the women had about a 17-hour trip. It consisted of all women veterans who had served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.
The ladies flew into Baltimore, MD and boarded a bus for their tour. First stop was Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. There was a special stop at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial which is located at the entrance to Arlington Cemetery. The group was treated to a special program and lunch. Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Wilma L. Vaught, one of the most decorated women in U.S. military history, and the first woman to deploy with an Air Force bomber wing (1966) greeted the group.
They also visited the World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial, the Korean War Memorial which featured nineteen soldiers each reflected on the wall for a total of thirty-eight which is the parallel upon which Korea rests. the Pentagon,and the U.S. Air Force Memorial
Upon on their return, active-duty and former military personnel, church groups, Honor Flight volunteers and many others gathered in the terminal to surprise the women, The Shamrock Club Pipes and Drum’s music played.
On December 12, 6:30 pm the WCGS will meet in the Harmon Room of the West Annex to the Bryan Public Library in Bryan, OH. Members are asked to bring a covered dish to share. Please come and join us for refreshments and festivities.
The purpose of the WCGS is the preservation of county records and family research. Monthly meetings are held the second Monday of each month, excluding July and August, in the Harmon Room of the West Annex of the Bryan Public Library. For further information concerning WCGS, email Pat Goebel wcgspg01@gmail.com, visit the Website at www.wcgs-orgs.com, or write to WCGS, PO Box 293, Bryan, OH 43506.
INFORMATION PROVIDED