The movie “Honor Flight: One Last Mission” is a story about truth and honor.World War II veteran Dr. Baxter Byerly, proudly wearing a VFW veterans cap, watched the heartwarming chronicle of four living WWII veterans and a Midwest community’s pursuit to fly them and other veterans to visit national memorials in Washington, D.C., dedicated to their service and sacrifice.Byerly hung on every word. The documentary hit home. Just last month, Byerly was among 78 men and women veterans on the second annual Honor Flight Tallahassee trip like the one before his eyes Thursday on the giant IMAX screen at the Challenger Learning Center at Kleman Plaza.Watching brought back memories, not only of the trip but of a bloody war. Today — the 70th anniversary of D-Day, when 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces stormed beaches along a 50-mile stretch of Normandy, France — Byerly said his thoughts drifted to the dead who never made it home.On June 6, 1944, better known as D-Day, the largest seaborne invasion in history took place on those sandy beaches.”We lost so many,” said Byerly, in a gentle voice. “But it had to be done, and they did it.”Talking about the war, images of young soldiers ducking for cover in foxholes and others disembarking from barges by the dozens, is difficult for many veterans. Not for Byerely.The Army veteran, who was deployed to Japan on post-war construction duty, said no one really asked him to share war stories. His father served in World War I; he never talked about the war either.More attention, Byerly said, is being given to veterans these days. That makes him feel good.More than 200 residents attended the Honor Flight viewing, sponsored by the Challenger Learning Center, Honor Flight Tallahassee and the James Madison Institute.Honor Flight Tallahassee chairman Mac Kemp said the James Madison Institute reached out to his nonprofit for a possible viewing. The documentary allows locals to experience what it’s like to put on the trip and the emotion that fuels coordinators to mobilize, especially since hundreds of WWII veterans are dying daily.”It’s a great way for them to see what Honor Flight is actually doing for veterans and what it means to them,” Kemp said.In the movie, Joe Dean, chairman of Stars and Stripes Honor Flight, is seen running on a beach. He’s exercising. Yet, with every step sinking into sand, he can’t help but think of his father fighting for freedom on the beaches of Normandy.One veteran said, “Once you’ve been in combat with people, you have an affinity for life for those people.”Another veteran, his voice cracking with emotion, said he had not shared his memories of war prior to his on-camera interview. The memories are too painful.Bob McClure, president and CEO of the James Madison Institute, said the nonprofit research and education organization has a core principal of civic engagement and learning about government. It also strives to understand what motivates the pursuit of freedom in America, along with why those efforts are unique for humanity.”Right along those lines, it’s about understanding what our veterans have done for this great country throughout history,” he said.Sadly, McClure said, people tend to go about their lives and take for granted those sacrifices.Amy Dietz said she wants her sons to always appreciate that sacrifice. She, along with her husband, brought three of their four sons to the viewing. Thursday was not just a family movie night.”We want our boys to grow up with a respect for the country,” said Dietz, who dressed her 6-year-old twin boys and 5-year-old son in patriotic polo shirts for the occasion. “As a mom of sons, I just want them to know the country we serve is a great country and whatever they grow up to become can help continue that tradition.”War stirs painful memories.Kemp asked a few veterans to speak following the movie during the question-and-answer period. They graciously declined. Seared flashbacks. Agony of losing friends. Screams from the wounded — it was all still too raw.Even 70 years later.To see a video, go to Tallahassee.com/newsEvent today in remembrance of D-Day:Leon County will host the annual Operation Thank You at9 a.m. today to honor and recognize World War II veterans in front of the WWII memorial at the County Courthouse, 301 S. Monroe St. It includes a presentation of colors, remarks from WWII veterans and breakfast will be served immediately following the ceremony.http://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/2014/06/05/d-day-anniversary-honor-flight/10050203/
