USNA News Article

Midshipmen Host 9/11 Tribute to World War II Veterans

September 13, 2012

By MC3 Danian Douglas

More than 100 midshipmen welcomed visiting World War II veterans for dinner at the Laboon Center on the U.S. Naval Academy campus Sept. 11.

The veterans were in the Washington, D.C., area as part of the Honor Flight program that takes U.S. war veterans to visit their respective war memorials in the nation’s capital at no cost.

Every Saturday, the Midshipman Action Group organizes a large group of midshipman volunteers to greet the veterans as they exit the terminal at BWI, but this was only the second time the veterans have visited the mids on their home ground.

Last semester Midshipman 2nd Class Ryder Ashcraft organized a dinner on the campus for a group of veterans from the Arizona hub of the Honor Flight program. This year, it seemed fitting to arrange a visit to correspond with the Naval Academy’s remembrance of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

“We love doing this for the veterans because of all they have sacrificed for us,” said Midshipman 1st Class Matt Disher. “This is something we can do to honor them.”

Disher and Ashcraft collaborated with the leader of the Arizona hub of the Honor Flight program to include the Naval Academy as part of their September trip.

“A lot of times the hub doesn’t tell them exactly where they are going, so it is a total surprise for them,” said Disher.

Harland Wilkinson, from Scottsdale, Ariz., who served as an Army Air Corps staff sergeant in England in World War II, recalled that he was very pleased when he came off the bus and saw the midshipmen waiting.

“It was a long flight and we travelled a lot, but this is a good trip,” said Wilkinson. “The midshipmen are showing a lot of appreciation for those of us who were lucky enough to have made it home from the war.”

After the war, Wilkinson married, bought a small home and lived a normal life. His daughter encouraged him to take the trip to D.C. in honor of his service.

“I am glad that I came and now look forward to seeing the World War II memorial tomorrow,” he said. “I love to hear the veterans’ stories,” said Ashcraft. “They love to tell us their stories and to know that their tradition continues with us.”