Honor Trip veterans receive long-overdue gratitude and blessings

From Sept. 26-28 the Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperative’s Community Honor Trip continued its tradition of providing an all-expenses-paid visit to the nation’s capital for area veterans and their individual guardians.

The event not only brought the veterans together to share a common thread, but also it provided them with an opportunity to visit the monuments in Washington, D.C.

While the monuments and traditions were golden for the veterans, of which there were 23 making the trek this fall, the trip was just as important in celebrating the unity veterans share together, that being one of great sacrifice and dedication.

“Many of these veterans never received a very nice welcome home from the nation, especially those who served in Vietnam, of which the majority of these veterans would have served,” said Glenn Miller, Holmes-Wayne Coop president and CEO.

The trip was special the moment the members loaded onto the bus, where they were able to learn more about new friends while some reconnected with old ones.

Upon returning to Shreve on Sept. 28 to a throng of people who expressed their gratitude, many of the veterans were emotional as they worked their way through the gauntlet of cheering people.

Army veteran Rocky Trussel served from 1974-75 with the 25th Division. He said this trip meant the world to each veteran who made the venture to the nation’s capital.

“It’s beautiful what they’ve done,” said Trussel, who sat with his grandson Jaxson Kidwell during the welcome home ceremony. “It’s easy to get a little sentimental over all of this. I walked off the bus, and seeing all of these people made me a little teary-eyed. This was a real blessing.”

He said his father served in the military, and he never spoke to his sons about his time in the service. However, three of Trussel’s brothers served, inspiring him to also invest himself in the military.

Trussel was able to spend time with Steve Salisbury, an old schoolmate with whom he had formerly worked.

He said talking about their shared experiences in life and the military was special and said what made this trip even more special was getting to know some of the other veterans who made the trip.

“Every day we got to know new friends,” Trussel said. “These are all people who care and sacrificed.”

Salisbury agreed, saying reuniting with his old friend was special.

“This was so great, and we are so appreciative of Holmes-Wayne for setting it up,” Salisbury said. “We got to see stuff there that everyone ought to be able to see and experience. I can’t say enough about Holmes-Wayne in the job they did.”

As for stepping off the bus and hearing the gratitude of many, Salisbury said this was a greeting he and his fellow veterans who served didn’t get 50 years ago.

Like many, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier hit home the hardest for Salisbury, who said the emotions were on high alert as they visited many of the monuments.

He said for many families, having loved ones who never returned home and haven’t had their remains identified leaves an enormous hole.

Both men spoke about cherishing the respect they felt throughout the trip.

Army veteran Al Lendrum said as an educator he has put many field trips together. He said what Holmes-Wayne did for the veterans was above and beyond anything he could have ever imagined.

“It was first-class from the time we got on the bus to tonight,” Lendrum said.

He said it was a bit nerve-wracking beginning the trip because he knew so few people on the bus, but by the end of the trip, he had dozens of new friends.

“I now know quite a few of my friends, and I’d love to know all of them,” Lendrum said.

He said returning home and seeing all the people greeting them and welcoming them home was gratifying to experience.

Those sentiments were shared by all the veterans who now, like the many dozens of veterans who have been invited on the trip over the past decade, have received a huge welcome home and the honor they so richly deserve.