Honor is a hard term to describe. It doesn\u2019t have a color or weight or shape. If someone were to ask me what honor looked like, I\u2019d probably struggle with what to say.<\/p>\n
But something happened on May 23, 2012 at 9:31 a.m. at Gate 38 of Reagan National Airport that might change that.\u00a0 A flash mob of sorts broke out. But not like you\u2019ve seen on YouTube with highly choreographed dance numbers or people singing a song in unison.\u00a0 In fact, virtually all of the participants of this \u201cflash mob\u201d didn\u2019t know they would be participating until moments before it happened.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Let me explain.\u00a0 Shortly before 9:30 over the loud speakers, a US Airways gate attendant announced that an Honor Flight of World War II veterans would be arriving momentarily and encouraged anyone passing by to help greet them.\u00a0 Five or six people looked like they were officially part of the welcoming committee, and the rest of the people in the secure section of the airport were regular old travelers going somewhere.\u00a0 Then I had a terrible thought.\u00a0 What if these veterans came off the plane and just those five or six individuals were there to greet them.\u00a0 I walked a gate over to help see the veterans out.<\/p>\n
But \u2013 then it happened and frankly, I wasn\u2019t expecting it.\u00a0 All throughout the terminal, people left their gates and gathered around gate 38.\u00a0 A few active military personnel in plain clothes approached the gate attendant and politely asked if they could \u00a0join in the salute within the jet way as the heros first stepped off the plane.\u00a0 Every human being in the terminal stood at attention and faced the door.<\/p>\n
Someone held up an old newspaper from 1945 that had a banner headline that said, \u201cNazis Quit!\u201d\u00a0 And when I saw that newspaper, I realized that World War II wasn\u2019t just a chapter in a history book.\u00a0 It was men and women who saw an evil like the world has never seen before and traveled across the world to meet that evil.\u00a0 And they defeated it.<\/p>\n
I wonder if in 1945, any of those brave soldiers could ever imagine that 67 years later, we\u2019d still be basking in the freedom that they preserved.\u00a0 And some of those heros were about to walk through Gate 38.<\/p>\n
The first soldier walked through the door. \u00a0Old, frail and needing help walking.\u00a0 And every person I could see in the entire airport stood and applauded.\u00a0 No \u2013 maybe cheered is more like it.<\/p>\n
But here\u2019s the thing \u2013 the applause didn\u2019t stop.\u00a0 For a full 20 minutes, as veteran by veteran stepped out of the jet way, the US Airways wing of Reagan National Airport thundered in appreciation.\u00a0 Travelers stepped out for the opportunity to shake their hand while others held back tears.<\/p>\n
This is the America we picture in our heads.\u00a0 Heros getting a hero\u2019s welcome and those who enjoy the freedom adequately conveying their gratitude.<\/p>\n
Now, I know what honor looks like.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
To view a version of the video with crowd sounds and no music, click here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n