World War II vet Ed Price visited a variety of military memorials.
By Dan St. John, F421001
June 2017
Ed Price and his wife, Anita, are charter members of FMCA’s Golden Spike chapter, which marks its 20th anniversary in 2018. The chapter, based in California, is composed of people with an interest in trains and railroad history.
Ed’s personal history also is worthy of recognition. He turned 94 in May. During World War II, he was an Army Air Corps technician stationed in the Pacific. He helped maintain America’s fleet of B-29 Superfortress bombers.
Early on the morning of October 5, 2017, Ed opened his door and was greeted by a volunteer escort from Honor Flight Southland, which serves Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Orange counties in California. The organization is part of the Honor Flight Network, a nonprofit that transports military veterans to Washington, D.C., free of charge, to visit the memorials that honor their sacrifice and service.
During the trip, Ed and other Southern California veterans visited the National World War II Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the United States Navy Memorial, and the Women in Military Service for America Memorial. They also observed the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.
The schedule kept the veterans busy for more than 12 hours a day. They stayed in the finest hotels, ate the best food, and shared memories with the bravest Americans. On Friday and Saturday evenings, they attended banquets in their honor. Ed said the veterans were treated royally.
The entire trip was an honor and a thrill for Ed, but some of the most memorable moments may have occurred as he returned to Los Angeles and opened surprise packages. They contained many letters from friends, Golden Spike chapter members, and local schoolchildren. The letters reminded Ed how much his life means to so many people, and that he served his country well.
Ed Price received this thank-you note from a schoolchild.
Ed said a letter from a boy named Leo stood out. “I could just see this little guy with his crayons, coloring between the lines, and writing, ‘Dear Veteran, thanks for all the stuff you did for us.’ Every time I think about it, I get a little misty-eyed.”