Shelby County man on 1st Indy Honor Flight trip

FAIRLAND, Ind. (AP) - For 85-year-old Gene Taylor of Fairland, seeing the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., with 79 other Hoosier veterans was a thrilling event.

Taylor and his compatriots were honored Spt. 10 by Indy Honor Flight with an all-expense-paid trip to the nation's capital to see the memorial, made possible by $65,000 in donations.

"It was great," he said Tuesday. "It was one of the most delightful days of my life."

He was one of the first veterans to participate in the Indy Honor Flight, which was four years in the making, Director Grant Thompson said.

The veterans met at the Indiana National Guard Armory in Indianapolis early that morning, flying to Baltimore/Washington International Airport each with an assigned "guardian" — volunteers who paid their own way via a contribution to Indy Honor Flight — who took care of their every need for the day.

From there they boarded motor coaches, traveling first to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to visit the World War II Memorial, which honors the 16 million who served in the armed forces and over 400,000 people who died during the war.

The group also toured the Lincoln Memorial and visited Arlington National Cemetery to observe the changing of the guard and the placement of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Having only seen a photograph of the World War II Memorial prior to the trip, Taylor said he was awed at the magnificence of the monument, which was completed in 2004.

"That is the most beautiful memorial I have ever seen. ... I was just amazed at its beauty," Taylor said.

Indy Honor Flight had planned a few surprises for the veterans, including a Mail Call on the return flight offering each veteran a bag of letters addressed to them individually from friends, family, community members and even state officials thanking them for their service.

Taylor said he was still opening and reading letters Tuesday.

"I must have gotten about 40 of them," Taylor said.

Another surprise was a "welcome home" committee greeting the vets as they returned to Indianapolis. Hundreds of friends, loved ones and community members cheered as each veteran was introduced by name in the Armory's gymnasium.

It was an emotional experience for Taylor's son, Greg Taylor of Fishers, who arranged with family members and friends to participate in the welcoming event and to write letters to his father.

"It was a lifetime experience," to see his father and the other veterans honored, he said. "You thought you were at a college football pep rally with people hollering, screaming, waving flags and singing, 'God Bless America' and 'America the Beautiful.' It was a very moving moment."

Greg said a family member saw a woman approaching the armory and asked if she was there to greet a loved one. The woman said she didn't know anyone but had responded to media reports to show her support.

Both Greg and Gene expressed gratitude for Gene's guardian, WIBC 93.1-FM's Indianapolis Colts football commentator John Cimasko, also known as "Jersey Johnny."

As did all the guardians on the trip, Cimasko paid his own expenses and took care of anything Gene needed.

Greg said Cimasko took it upon himself to visit his father days before the flight just to get to know him.

"He's just a great guy. We couldn't do hardly anything for ourselves," Gene laughed. "They took total care of us." Gene noted there were some female veterans on tour.

"One lady was in the Air Force and had her original uniform on," he said.

Gene was the only representative of the Merchant Marines. He served 18 months in the South Pacific, from 1944 through 1945, as an able-bodied seaman helmsman, followed by 18 months in the U.S. Army as a topographical engineer before being discharged.

He said the Merchant Marines has been overlooked throughout the years despite the vital service it provided to Allied troops on the front lines delivering supplies and equipment.

Once discharged, Gene went to college, married and raised three children while working for the Kennedy Car Liner Co. in Shelbyville as a graphic designer.

He retired in 1985 to enjoy three grandchildren and 15 grandchildren with his wife of 59 years, Ruth.

Thompson said he launched the nonprofit Indy Honor Flight, based in Mooresville, to honor Indiana's veterans for all their sacrifices.

With the average age of World War II veterans at 89 and an estimated 900 veterans dying each day, Thompson said they are a priority along with veterans who may be terminally ill.

Some of the applicants waiting for the inaugural flight passed away before it came to fruition, he said.

The Veterans for Foreign Wars and the American Legion help support the program, which also depends on fundraisers and donations for its operations.

Thompson would like to see another flight in the next few months and is seeking guardian volunteers and donations for that.

He also wants all veterans to know about the program.

"Many don't have any idea this program exists," he said.

Indy Honor Flight