There are nearly 1.5 million veterans in the state of Florida, according to the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs-- and Honor Flight Central Florida wants to make sure all of them are honored for their service.
Honor Flight Central Florida’s mission is to transport America’s Veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit and reflect at their memorials at no cost to them. They give top priority to World War II survivors, along with those other veterans who may be terminally ill. After serving these veterans, our efforts then focus on honoring Korean and Vietnam Veterans.
News 6 also has a deep connection to our veterans, so when Honor Flight reached out to us to see about Trooper Steve Montiero going on a flight with our veterans, he jumped at the chance and recruited News 6 photojournalist James “Goose” Gosselin to go with him.
It was a long day-- starting bright and early at around 4 a.m. and returning home around 11 p.m.-- but they said it was well worth it.
Montiero and Gosselin got to Orlando Sanford International Airport. They served as guardians to two veterans, a Korean War veteran Jack Lipp and Vietnam War veteran Bryan Francis.
It was clear from the get-go that all four men were going to get along famously.
“I think we’re in trouble,” said Gosselin.
“Possibly,” said Montiero. “You know, we thought we were the characters on this trip, absolutely not. These two, these two. Going to be a good time.”
One of the Honor Flight personnel gave an inspiring speech before everyone boarded their chartered flight.
“Over eight years, I am so glad to be here today, because I know you’ve got a great day coming up ahead of you. Whether you’re a veteran of World War Two, Korea or Vietnam, each and every one of you is deserving of making this trip today. When you get up on the Mall, you’re going to be very conspicuous, very conspicuous. You’re going to have a lot of people come up to you today, and thank you for your service. I don’t want you to be the normal, humble person that you are. And I want you to enjoy the adulation and the honors that you get today, because that’s why you’re going. So listen, in a couple of weeks from now, you might not remember all the details of old conversations and everything that happened today, but we hope that you never ever forget how today makes you feel.”
The men and women all boarded the flight and Montiero couldn’t contain his excitement.
“Talk about just an amazing vibe here. We have veterans from the Korean War, Vietnam and even some World War Two vets.”
Once they arrived at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, the plane was greeted by a fire truck spraying water in celebration, and people with bagpipes, banners and cheers inside the airport.
“God, I got goosebumps,” said Lipp.
Then it was time to board the buses to start visiting the memorials.
“We definitely have probably two of the best characters on this bus, so we appreciate their sense of humor even if they’re knocking on the young guys,” said Montiero.
“Hey duck down, Steve, the sheriff’s up here,” joked Francis.
“Yeah, they don’t like troopers here,” said Montiero.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery was a touching moment for all of them. Although there were about 300-400 people present during the Changing of the Guard ceremony, all you could hear was the Sentinels’ boots as they walked.
The group also visited the Military Women’s Memorial, which documents all military women service. According to their website, three million women have served in or with the Armed Forces since the American Revolution. One of their major goals is to record and preserve stories that will otherwise be lost to history and unknown to future generations.
While there, Montiero and Lipp connected, having both served in Korea, albeit years apart.
“When I got there, I was under President Truman’s extension,” said Lipp. “So that conflict was still a conflict. There was no shooting, there was no firing, but it was a conflict for a year and a half more. So they sent me to Schofield Barracks because the 25th Division was coming back.”
“So they had you guys ready, basically,” said Montiero.
“We were in between, they had some of them there already. We were the rest of them, we replaced, see, that’s how it happened,” said Lipp.
“I think what’s crazy is, I went there in 2006, well after your conflict was over, but because the war was never officially ended, and because it was considered a ceasefire, I have the same service medal that a lot of the members served during your time have simply because it is still an active conflict,” said Montiero.
“And that’s the thing. It was just incredible, the sequence of events, I’m telling you,” said Lipp.
“I got to go to the DMZ one time, just to see it. And it is the most, it’s weird to describe it the most frightening, peaceful place I’ve ever been to,” said Montiero.
“It’s a park,” said Lipp. “The country.”
“Well, the tension, on that border, you can feel it,” said Montiero. “You can feel it there and to know that there’s only a certain amount of...”
“They’re still up there, we’re still down here,” said Lipp.
“The North is still there, the South is still there. And in reality, at any point in time, you know, it could strike up again.”
They also got to visit the WWII Memorial, WWI Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial and Vietnam Veterans Memorial. That’s where the men really got personal with each other.
“Let’s start with you, Jack. Tell me your name, rank and serial number,” said Gosselin.
“POC Jack Lipp US 51337361,” said Lipp. “You never forget that.”
“Bryan, you too,” said Montiero.
“Okay, I’m Bryan Francis, Airmen First Class AF 11394632. That’s all the information I’m allowed to give you guys,” Francis laughed.
“What does this mean to you guys to be able to be here today?,” asked Gosselin.
“It means a lot to me at my age, and seeing all the other veterans,” said Lipp. “It brings a tear in my eye. It really makes me think about it all, makes you think about everything again. You seem to forget after a while, you know, and then all of a sudden you get thinking about it and you say, ‘Gee, what a great country we’re in.’ There really is a moving experience to come down here.”
“It’s just a wonderful feeling to come here with brothers and sisters, to pay our respects to brothers and sisters that gave it all. You come here with family and friends and everybody’s touching things, they generally don’t know,” said Francis. “This is really meaningful when you’re with people that experienced that, you know, like I was telling Steve, we were all only one siren away from being here.”
“You guys both served in different wars, Vietnam, Korea. But what is the connection between someone who served in a war in the past that allows you guys to be brothers on a day like today?” asked Montiero.
“To me, we both answered the call to help, to me, the most wonderful nation in the world still today,” said Francis.
“I feel the same, I felt very moved to go. I love the country. It was a big thing to go when you’re young,” said Lipp.
“One of the things about this is, even though Jack and I’ve been got pretty close, but everybody that we’ve met, you know, all got respect for each other and I’m sure we all have different walks of life, you know, arrived here, different tracks, but everybody’s respectful and nice to everybody. There’s no rank and it’s like being out here with a marker. There’s no rank, nothing. We all did whatever the heck we had to do,” said Francis.
“Do you guys feel like heroes?,” asked Gosselin.
“No,” said Francis.
“I’m humbled by it,” said Lipp.
“Why?” asked Gosselin.
“I just did what I had to do to preserve that,” said Francis, pointing to the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial.
“What is that to you?” asked Gosselin.
“Well, freedom , chance for me to live my life the way I want to live it, and you can do the same. And we can be friends, even though we’re going different, you know? Without that we might not have that opportunity,” said Francis.
“For me, my sense of responsibility was so strong because of men and women like you guys,” said Montiero. “You know, you guys set the tone for all of us, really. And if I was willing to take the oath, I’d best damn well better do it just as good as you guys did.”
They had another personal moment at the Korean War Veterans Memorial.
“When you guys see this, what do you guys experience?” asked Montiero.
“It’s moving,” said Lipp.
“To me, I just wonder how in the heck did any of these people survive, the winters there, and the fighting and just running out of supplies,” said Francis.
“The weather conditions got them, because the North Koreans, they knew how to handle it,” said Lipp.
“You guys were saying this monument depicts actual reality,” said Montiero.
“Every one of these here is a real person, it’s not a list of names,” said Francis.
“That’s why they did it so meticulously, if you look at their faces there you see they’re suffering along, look at them,” said Lipp.
“Bryan, you described it as ugly,” said Montiero.”
“War is ugly anytime but coming to see this as a non-military person, I hope you show respect and are proud of what these people did, sacrificed,” said Francis.
“Out of everything we’ve seen so far today, what’s been the one thing for each of you that’s been the most important?” asked Montiero.
“I think the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier that always gets me,” said Francis. “It’s just the commitment is still there 24/7 365 days a year, no matter the weather conditions, that respect and inspiration is happening everyday.”
“I don’t think a lot of people understand that that tomb never goes unguarded,” said Montiero.
“Never goes unguarded, the story behind that is amazing,” said Lipp. “That would be number one on mine, it’s a tearjerker.”
“What do you want people to get from the stories we’re telling and what you have experienced?” asked Gosselin.
“We can always say we’d like them to remember and learn about our past, they don’t know anything about that, the Korean War, or any of them, you know what I’m saying?” said Lipp. “Get away from that phone and get your history going.”
“Not only would I like to see the newer generation show some respect for the veterans, but think about what they can do to preserving this wonderful country,” said Francis. “Forget what we did, what can you do to help keep it going.”
“I don’t think anyone should ever forget what you did. You guys are heroes, whether you admit it or not,” said Gosselin.
“But it’s got to continue on,” said Francis.
Finally, it was time to head back to the airport.
“I saw you all at the memorials that are erected in your honor, that’s why we came here. I saw you talking to citizens, I saw you talk to each other. I saw a lot of love today. And I told you before we started saying that, by the end of this day, you’d be, of course, Honor Flight for a day. And to me that means you’re Honor Flight for life,” said Col. Landy Dunham with Honor Flight.
One of the best parts of the day, by all accounts, was the arrival back to Orlando Sanford International Airport.
Hundreds of people greeted the returning veterans and guardians. The flight participants came down the escalator to resounding cheers, banners, posters, troopers came out to greet Montiero, complete with patrol cars lit up outside.
The men ended their day with hugs-- and promises to reconnect soon.
There’s more to this story-- keep an eye out for the follow-up including in-depth reflection and observation from Montiero and Gosselin, posting right here to ClickOrlando.com/veterans June 11.