Press Lets Public Get to Know Honor Flight Veterans

World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

PASCAGOULA -- Over the past several weeks, the Mississippi Press has been releasing the names and photographs of veterans expected to make a trip to the U.S. capital during the second Mississippi Gulf Coast Honor Flight set for Wednesday, Sept. 21.
The Press calls the segment "Meet the Heroes."
If you missed the 87 men and women veterans in the newspaper, you may follow the above link to see who will be traveling to the World War II Memorial on Sept. 21 in Washington, D.C.

Some of the veterans making the trip:
William Kimble of Pass Christian, Gerald Klecker of Pascagoula, J.G. Lewis of Wesson, Darwin Maples of Lucedale; Angelo Papale of Gulfport; Eugene Spearman of Saltillo, Homer Wales of Gautier, Clara Webb of Biloxi, Barbara Chachitz of Biloxi, Stanley Fiveash of Poplarlville;
Edward Huse of Slidell; Edwin Mauterer of Diamondhead; Harry Quinn of Madison; Herbert Tepper of Hattiesburg, Claiborne Traweek of Quitman; Dorris Ward, General Bullock of Moss Point; Robert Horne Sr. of Lucedale; David Dotson of Winona, Max Juchheu of Grenada, Robert Clunie of Hattiesburg;
Richard Anglin of Tupelo, Katherine Gill of Biloxi, Jeff Haynie of Gulfport, Glen Norwood of Oxford, James Oakes of Hattiesburg, John Rhymes of Monticello, Harold Roberts of Collins, James Roberts of Greenwood, Lloyd Thurman of Silver Creek and Leonard Warren Hazelhurst.

Herman Abbey of Byram, Walter Barnham of Hattiesburg, Edward Bishop of Meridian, Jack Creech of Hattiesburg, Otey Jackson Jr. of Macon, Victor Lee of Hattiesburg, Noah Mills of Carthage, M.L. McCormick of Gautier, Robert Reeves of Diamonhead, Joseph Sasser of Carthage, John Stonecypher of Lucedale.

Information and applications are available at MS Gulf Coast Honor Flight, P.O. Box 1912, Gautier, MS 39553, by e-mail at mgchonorflight@gmail.com, and at http://www.mgchonorflight.org/.
Donations mailed to Mississippi Gulf Coast Honor Flight, c/o Kiwanis Division 14 Foundation, 516 Brandi Lane, Gulfport, MS 39507. Contributions also may be made at any Hancock Bank.

The daylong trip will include visits to the World War II Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Iwo Jima Monument, and to the Arlington National Cemetery to view the changing of the guard.

Veteran Rodgers, Family Surprised by WWII Attention

Bilbo Rodgers of Pascagoula (Meet the Heroes)

PASCAGOULA -- Bilbo Rodgers has a second invitation from the Pascagoula Rotary Club to attend their meeting on Wednesday, June 8, at the Grand Magnolia Ballroom.

The invitation is part of the public attention that has been bestowed upon Rodgers, a veteran of World War II, since he and 83 other veterans made the inaugural trip of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Honor Flight on May 11.

Pascagoula Veteran Recalls D-Day Experience

The Mississippi Press/June 06, 2011

He feels "pretty good" about all the attention, though he and his family have been surprised my his seeming celebrity status now.

"I've done got to be real popular," he said this morning. "They're excited about it. They think it's real good."

Though he didn't know it until the next day, the greeting between his daughter, Julia Holmes, and himself at the Gulfport-Biloxi Regional Airport, where Gulf Coast residents had gathered to welcome home the Honor Flight veterans, was the front page photograph in The Mississippi Press.

"That flight to Washington really brought it to the light," he said. "I didn't think all of this would come of it."

At the WWII memorial, Rodgers was among three South Mississippi veterans who took part in the laying of a wreath.

Holmes, Rodgers' eldest daughter and child, also is excited about the attention he's received lately, he said.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Honor Flight

Rodgers said all of the World War II veterans were treated to a number of recognitions by area businesses and community groups before they made the May 11 trip to the nation's capital to tour the WWII monument built in their honor. The veterans also toured memorials for soldiers who served in the Korean and Vietnam wars, and they were part of a sight tour of the Lincoln Memorial.

"Before I went on the flight Ingalls gave us a big dinner for the World War II veterans," he said.

During April, Beau Rivage casino provided a tribute that included a show. Veterans were allowed to bring another guest, said Rodgers. "I carried Aubrey Williams and another guy from our area."