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Flash Mob at Gate 38 of Reagan National Airport

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 6:37 pm
by Jumping Frog
http://www.mullerover.com/2012/05/23/wh ... l-airport/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
. . .something happened on May 23, 2012 at 9:31 a.m. at Gate 38 of Reagan National Airport that might change that. A flash mob of sorts broke out. But not like you’ve seen on YouTube with highly choreographed dance numbers or people singing a song in unison. In fact, virtually all of the participants of this “flash mob” didn’t know they would be participating until moments before it happened.

Let me explain. 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. 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. Then I had a terrible thought. What if these veterans came off the plane and just those five or six individuals were there to greet them. I walked a gate over to help see the veterans out.
To paraphrase, everyone in nearby gates mobbed Gate 38, hundreds of people. And they stood and clapped and cheered these old vets off the plane for 20 minutes.

The video is pretty moving, although I would have preferred to hear the actual clapping instead of a music soundtrack.

When I was a kid, it seemed like every Dad in the neighborhood was a WWII veteran. Most of them have passed on, including all my family members. Not many left.

I remember my Mom telling me that she remembers the last of the Civil War veterans in the Memorial Day parade when she was a girl in the 1930's. It won't be long before we are talking about the last of the WWII veterans.

Re: Flash Mob at Gate 38 of Reagan National Airport

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 7:52 pm
by Songbird
This brought me to tears. And there is another version of the video at the bottom of the link you posted, with audience sounds instead of the music. Thanks for sharing!

Re: Flash Mob at Gate 38 of Reagan National Airport

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 7:58 pm
by LabRat
Songbird wrote:This brought me to tears. And there is another version of the video at the bottom of the link you posted, with audience sounds instead of the music. Thanks for sharing!

Me too.....

Found it....liked it too..

LabRat

Re: Flash Mob at Gate 38 of Reagan National Airport

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 8:16 pm
by pbwalker
wow...that was moving. :cry:

Re: Flash Mob at Gate 38 of Reagan National Airport

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 8:33 pm
by Heartland Patriot
We've already had the last of one group of veterans pass on in our lifetime...the Doughboys of WWI. They went "over there" to stop Kaiser Bill, end the slaughter and restore order to Europe (and the world). They didn't fight as long as the men who went to war in WWII, but they did fight in some terrible conditions and did their best job.

BTW, I read today that WWII veterans are going to their final roll call at the rate of 800 a day...I'll be very sad when they've all gone, as well.

Something else I was thinking about...I don't think that today's desert war veterans are going to get a memorial...even though the war in Afghanistan has been going on for over a decade. Just not important enough to enough people, I guess.

Re: Flash Mob at Gate 38 of Reagan National Airport

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 8:49 pm
by Oldgringo
Tears for me, too. They truly represent, "The Greatest Generation".

Re: Flash Mob at Gate 38 of Reagan National Airport

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:10 pm
by RoyGBiv
Thanks for posting that.. :hurry: :hurry:

Re: Flash Mob at Gate 38 of Reagan National Airport

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:22 pm
by GWE Chally
I donate to the Honor Flight organization in honor of might Great Uncle Jack Frothingham. He took an Honor Flight last year for his 90th birthday. When he returned he was greeted by a U.S. Flag that I flew over Iraq in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

He said the Honor Flight was absolutely incredible, and the folks from the organization run a true class act. All of the Veterans were treated with the utmost dignity and compassion, and were in awe of the entire adventure!

Donate here: http://www.honorflight.org/donate/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A truly worthy cause...

Re: Flash Mob at Gate 38 of Reagan National Airport

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:45 pm
by SATX-Scrub
Thanks for posting that. My allergies must be acting up, I got all teary all of a sudden.