The final day of Brookshire’s Heroes Flight took the veterans to the skies even before their return home to Lafayette.
The veterans made their first stop at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum for a viewing of “D-Day: Normandy 1944” an IMAX film dedicated to telling the story of the largest Allied operation of World War II.
The film and museum brought back memories for many of the veterans, including Eboo Bienvenu of St. Martinville who was a part of the operations to liberate Europe on D-Day.
“We dropped the paratroopers in Belgium to fool Hilter,” Bienvenu explains. “Hitler bit on it and held back two divisions from the bottom and we saved about one million lives.”
The veterans who served in the Air Force, Army Air Corps, and Navy shared stories of war and duty while touring the museum.
Before heading back home to Lafayette, Veteran Sherbie Breaux named his crawfish queens and left a lasting impression on his chaperone for the trip.
“Mr. Breaux is a very special guy,” says Kerry Flournoy. “We just had a great time listening to the stories. Not only the wartime stories but of his life growing up.”
The veterans even received letters before the flight left for home. Those letters included inspiring words from family and friends who shared their gratitude.
Army Air Corps Vet Kaye Gabel shared his letter while on the flight. His sister Beverly made him smile with the short postscript, “SHUT UP, so other Veterans can tell their stories!!”
But the best part of the trip was seeing those families waiting for their brave veterans as they arrived home from their trip. It was a true Hero’s Welcome that all of these men deserve.
A beautiful trip for a rare breed of hero. Their sacrifices in life have made a lasting impact on our own and for that, we will remain forever grateful. Thanks to Brookshire’s Grocery, American Airlines and the pilots, flight, crew and entire crew of volunteers who made this trip possible.
For Day 2 of the trip, click here. And to see the trip from the beginning, click here.
