When veteran Bob Cook of Casper, Wyoming, was getting ready to board the plane in Denver on April 10, the tarmac was lined with cheering people, waving flags and live music. He felt a wave of unexpected emotions and was overwhelmed by the tribute.
The 96-year-old veteran of World War II and the Korean War had been awarded a trip of a lifetime aboard the Rocky Mountain Honor Flight with 29 other veterans. The all-expense paid, three-day trip is choreographed so that veterans can see the major monuments dedicated to their wars and branches of service.
Jennifer Sherman, a coordinator with the nonprofit Honor Flight, told Cowboy State Daily that the entire trip is all about honoring the veterans who served our country, and not just those who served in battle. Priority is given to the oldest veterans, such as Cook, and the majority on the latest flights have served in Vietnam.
“They'll see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the changing of the guard at Arlington” she said. “When they go see the monuments, it gets very emotional for them.”
It’s been decades since Casper resident Bob Cook served in the Army during World War II and Korean War. Now 96, he finally got to visit his memorials in Washington, D.C., a trip that was extremely emotional and meaningful. (Courtesy U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis' Office) 
It’s been decades since Casper resident Bob Cook served in the Army during World War II and Korean War. Now 96, he finally got to visit his memorials in Washington, D.C., a trip that was extremely emotional and meaningful. (Courtesy U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis' Office) 
It’s been decades since Casper resident Bob Cook served in the Army during World War II and Korean War. Now 96, he finally got to visit his memorials in Washington, D.C., a trip that was extremely emotional and meaningful. (Courtesy U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis' Office) 
It’s been decades since Casper resident Bob Cook served in the Army during World War II and Korean War. Now 96, he finally got to visit his memorials in Washington, D.C., a trip that was extremely emotional and meaningful. (Courtesy U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis' Office)
Serving His Country
“It was terrific,” Cook said. “I can't say enough about it. They treated me great. Almost too good.”
Cook received a medal for serving in Japan from 1946-1948 as part of the Army of Occupation. He said he doesn’t agree with being considered a World War II vet, but the government had designated him as such.
When he arrived back home in Wyoming, he joined the reserves and was subsequently drafted into the Korean War from 1950-1951. He was assigned to office work at the hospital in Osaka, Japan, and saw all the wounded coming in from the front lines.
“The worst part was the soldiers that shot their toes off to get out of Korea,” Cook said. “We saw every kind of injury that happens in war.”
The Honor Flight
Being flown to see the memorials in Washington D.C. is only part of the experience for Cook and the other veterans on his flight. They are greeted each step of the way by welcoming committees made up of large crowds of cheering people and bands playing patriotic tunes.
“My dad is a Vietnam veteran,” Sherman said. “He never got a proper homecoming so this means a lot to me that we can finally give our veterans the recognition that they deserve.”
Cook was overwhelmed by the unexpected reception he received in both Denver and Baltimore and even more amazed that young teenagers were among the cheering crowds.
“It was outstanding,” he said. “The treatment we received, even from 14-year-olds, was terrific.”
The tarmac at both the departing Colorado flight and arriving flight in Maryland were lined with enthusiastic people.
“They've got just everyday public welcoming them home, thanking them for their service,” Sherman said. “The tears are flowing and it's just a very emotional time.”
Remembering The Fallen
Cook said that the memorial he was most excited to see was not a memorial dedicated to the wars he personally served in. Instead, he wanted to visit the memorial devoted to those lost in Vietnam.
“I got to see it and touch it,” he said. “It was very, very moving because I have a person on the wall, my employee’s son. It was quite an experience.”
It also meant a lot to Cook when not only did they witness the changing of the guard at Arlington but his tour group took an important slight detour.
“We went to the grave of one of the veteran's wives who was buried in Arlington Cemetery,” Cook said, “That was very nice of the tour to stop and do that for him.”
It was an emotional two days of touring and bonding with the younger veterans that Cook would not trade for anything.
Homecoming
The trip home was full of additional surprises for the veterans and Cook said it was just like mail call when he was in the army and just as big of a deal.
Each veteran was presented with a package of letters from loved ones and strangers=.
“I've got a package full of letters,” he said. “I've got all the letters from the congressional delegation, the governor of Wyoming, and outstanding letters from a lot of people.”
Sherman said they want to make the experience last as long as possible for their veterans so each Honor Flight veteran is invited to Pine Bluffs in Laramie County for a true Wyoming homecoming.
“We'll have kids from Burns, Carpenter and Pine Bluffs welcoming them into our town with an ice cream social,” she said. “We also present them each with a Quilt of Valor.”
After his own incredible flight, Cook is now a huge advocate of the program and says that he has been telling all his veteran friends to sign up.
Wyoming veterans, especially those that served in Vietnam or earlier, are encouraged to apply by calling Jennifer Sherman directly at (757)305-8725.
“We want to get more veterans on these honor flights and give them the homecoming that so many never received when they first came home,” Sherman said. “It is an emotional trip for us all.”
Jackie Dorothy can be reached at jackie@cowboystatedaily.com.
