Service as a volunteer often leads to unexpected experiences and rewards. Such was one woman’s experience as she was ‘buddy’d up’ with a veteran flown in to Washington D.C. in a group invited to visit ‘their’ memorials.
Welcome, first time MilSuccessNet guest blogger as she shares the opportunity she had to get to know her country’s veterans one name, one story and one day at a time in a story entitled: Honor Flight: Spending a day with the Greatest Generation changed my life.
Her post follows coverage of the screening of documentary, Honor Flight the Movie. Photos in this post are those of Ms Rodriguez.
Diana M. Rodriguez, blogger, editor, valued volunteer, photo supplied
Diana M. Rodriguez is a writer and editor who blogs on topics of social interest. She has deep roots in the Veterans’ community as public affairs practitioner with a focus on their issues and also as friend and family member.
Our peek into her memorable, diary type entry, is excerpted from a February 2013 post on her popular blog: I Mean What I Say but I Don’t Say It Meanly. (MilSuccessNet has added captions and sub-heads here only)
2010 had been a challenging year, for our writer. It held tough times for her on the personal front, in her health and in the uncertainty of her job. The call to serve beckoned her at just the right time….And now, in her own words…..
Honor Flight: Spending a day with the Greatest Generation changed my life
When a friend called me and asked me if I wanted to be a volunteer for an Honor Flight in September, I was thrilled to have an opportunity to do something that would take my mind off my own worries and give me a chance to experience something quite special.
There was no way I could begin to know how special that day would be and how it would truly touch my life.
If you don’t know what Honor Flight is all about, I strongly suggest you look into it and sign up for one. Time is running out. There aren’t many left from the Greatest Generation, and every year their numbers dwindle further.
As I am thinking back on that day, I realize that I am not going to be able to do it justice with this one blog post. There is simply too much to capture. But there is a reason I am writing this now, almost three years later. Recently, I found out that the man I spent that beautiful day with, passed away. I want to honor him once more.
“Veteran Volunteers”
My friend picked me up very early that morning and we headed out to Dulles to meet the “old guys” we would be assigned to escort that day.
My friend had already volunteered at a few times and she explained the whole procedure and what to expect.
Awaiting the Veterans in D.C.
Depending on the health of my designated veteran, I should expect to have to speak loudly, walk slowly, and patiently listen to war stories. No problem! I was up for it and prepared for the worst. If my assigned veteran is in a wheel chair, I can push him all day long. I was just grateful to have the chance to interact and connect with one of these men.
Little did I know that the man I would spend the day with was like no 89-year-old I would have imagined.
Meeting of the man in the moment
Robert B. Kalnitz. That’s the name I had on my piece of paper.
Last one off the plane
He arrived with his group from Chicago. He was one of the last ones to disembark the plane. They allow the less mobile veterans off the plane first- those in wheel chairs and walkers. But Robert, or Bob as he asked me to call him, stood tall and capable.
As he walked toward me, I got a deep sense of slight shyness. I could see he felt a little uncomfortable with all the attention that was being given to the group. I would come to learn that he was a modest, humble and sensitive man. He was deeply grateful for the opportunity to come to Washington, D.C. to see the World War II monument with his fellow Greatest Generation.
Bob also was moved by the idea that all the volunteers had, in his words, “taken the day off from work and using their vacation time” to spend with strangers who had fought a war before many of them had even been born.
So we were given a chance to spend time together on the bus from Dulles to D.C. and Bob was so bright and sharp that I soon began to realize that he was unlike most of the others in the group.
“Friends already” Diana and Bob
I asked him the usual “get to know you” questions about his life since the war, what he did in the service, and his family. He answered and engaged me about my life and experiences too. It was delightful and I wasn’t bored for a minute. We had really hit it off, and I felt so fortunate and blessed to have really hit the jackpot by being given this gentleman to spend the day with.
As I write these words, tears well up as I remember the sweetness of that day. It was perfection from start to finish. The weather in D.C. was simply amazing. Blue skies and lovely sunshine, with a light breeze.
Once we got to the monument, we walked around and I took photos. Bob had a camera too and he took snaps of his state monument- Illinois.
Home state pride at Washington monument
Seeing all of those old veterans, I couldn’t help but imagine them in their youth and what they had been through during the war. It was especially poignant, and a bit ironic, that Bob had been a flyer who flew missions from England to Germany. I shared with him that my mother had been there, a small child, living in Köln, Germany.
Perhaps Bob had flown over her town. You might imagine that fact may have been something that put some awkwardness between us, but it didn’t in the least.
Life Lessons
There are no accidents. I could have easily been paired with a veteran of the South Pacific or France, but the universe has an interesting way of teaching us lessons. In those difficult days of 2010, I needed to feel like life had a deeper meaning. This experience was a gift I had been looking for.
Hanging out with the “old guys” and having a blast on a sunny day in Washington.
So, we spent that beautiful day together, enjoying an outdoor lunch and talking for hours. We saw the sights and walked the steps of Mr. Lincoln’s memorial. Not all the veterans were able, but Bob was so strong and in such great shape, he was able to keep up very well.
As the day wound down, we headed back to Dulles on the bus, and it started to get dark. I shared some of my personal woes with Bob, who was kind and thoughtful with his advice.
He talked about his marriage and his daughters and grandchildren. That day we shared truly wonderful conversations and we really bonded.
Bob even mentioned me when he spoke to his wife, Shirlie, on the telephone. I felt special and appreciated. How did Bob know how much I needed that feeling? He just did; that’s the kind of man Bob Kalnitz was.
When it was getting close to the time to say goodbye, I started to get a really big knot in my stomach. I didn’t want to cry, but I had a feeling I was going to do just that.
Modern day pen pals
So when they called the veterans to line up to board their plane, Bob and I exchanged contact information and we hugged goodbye. And we both had tears in our eyes. Just like I do right now remembering it.
We are very fortunate to have things like Facebook and email to keep us connected. Imagine how thrilled I was a few weeks later to receive an email from Bob’s daughter, Leah.
Hi Diana,
I wanted to thank you for your kindness and sensitive attention to my Dad, Bob Kalnitz, during his time in Washington Tuesday. He got off the plane raving about you nonstop. His conversations with you and your interest in and sharing with him were more of an honor to him than the WWII Memorial. He was amazed that you would take a vacation day to spend with an elderly veteran. We are so touched by the generosity of spirit (not to mention time and thought) of all the Honor Flight volunteers. You made a great day even more special, and our family can’t thank you enough.
All the best,
Leah
Life takes off
So Leah and I would touch base from time to time. I wrote to wish Bob a happy birthday when he turned 90.
Life took off for me and I was distracted by my own issues, family, health concerns, and relationship. I changed jobs, got married, and just did all the things we do in our day-to-day lives.
I thought of that day, and Bob, often.
I encouraged my family and friends to sign up for Honor Flight and I told my mother about the day I spent with the lovely, kind, intelligent, Jewish man from Chicago; who just happened to be an Air Force pilot who flew a bomber over Germany during the war.
She also appreciated the rich coincidence and how interesting it was for me to share a day with someone who had lived through a dangerous experience and time. She said I was fortunate to have had such a chance to hear firsthand what that must have been like. And I knew I was.
Final act
A few weeks ago, I got an email from Leah. It may seem hard to believe, but her words brought me to tears that would resurface many times since. This is what she wrote:
Dear Diana,
It has been a long time since I’ve written to you, but it is not because I don’t think of you often. I especially have been thinking of you every day recently and every day put off writing this particular e-mail……..
To read Diana’s touching and personal post in its entirety, visit her website. In it she writes of the lingering bond of love and respect she shares with Bob’s family.
Share your comments now with other Honor Flight volunteers in the wings and with MilitarySuccessNetwork readers and your questions or comments for Diana too!
IN HONOR of Robert B. Kalnitz, from Diana’s post but in his daughter Leah’s own words:
Dad was a First Lieutenant in the Air Force, 305th Bomb Group. He was a B-17 pilot, and his plane was a Triangle G. He was an instructor in Ft. Myers for a year and then was sent to England, stationed at a base about an hour outside London, in Feb. 1945. He flew missions over Germany and perhaps other countries. After the war, he was kept overseas to help photograph Europe to create a map–and also to survey damage, I believe (can check on that). His love of planes preceded his service–he was determined to be a pilot–and continued until his death. Our childhood and even adulthood included going to air shows with him. His grandchildren went, too. He wore his Air Force ring proudly every day.
He and my mom (Shirlie) were married in Columbus, Ohio on Feb. 20, 1944. Next week would have been their 69th anniversary. When they got married, he hadn’t yet received his orders and didn’t know if he was shipping out overseas. But they heard either that day or right after that he was being sent to Ft. Myers to be an instructor, so Mom went with him and they were there together for a year. I think he left the U.S. right around their anniversary and came home a year later, right around their anniversary.
Diana M. Rodriguez is a native Washingtonian who currently works as a professional freelance writer, blogger, social media savant, commentator, editor and public affairs practitioner. Diana’s communications consulting firm is: Write Type Communications. Find her on twitter @DCgal62.
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