The weekend of March 14 my local Red Cross Chapter held our 6th Annual Fly-In at the Auburn-Opelika, AL Airport.  This event wears me out. We literally plan all year. There are so many details to cover and so much work to be done and never enough people to do it all.  The day after the show is over, we are planning for next year.  It is so much work and very expensive to put on. It is really disappointing to work so hard and then have the weather control the event.

For two years in a row we have had extreme cold, rain and wind. Last year we even had snow in March in Alabama!  I am beginning to wonder what I did to offend the Man Upstairs.  This year we added a dinner and auction the night before, which did wonderfully, but left me questioning our reason when I got home at 1 am and had to get up to go to the airport at 4 am. (Yes, I just stayed up.)

Anyway, in the dark I made my way toward the airport in the cold rain.  We set up in the cold rain and before the gates opened we made the decision to let everyone in for free, just so the pilots and food vendors would have the hope of some visitors.  Normally we see a crowd of about 10,000 and they stay all day.  We even extended our hours this year to take advantage of Daylight Savings Time. This year we are lucky if 1,500 came out and if they even stayed an hour.  Needless to say, I was feeling down.

But something happened on that cold, rainy day at the airport.  Something to warm the heart of even the most exhausted Red Cross worker.  People came out anyway.  They were happy and said positive things. They made donations that far outweighed the ticket price they would have paid at the gate. And they told stories. Stories of hope and how the American Red Cross had impacted their lives.

Friday night we were joined by Lt. Colonel Harold Decker, 91, a WWII P-38 pilot and former Prisoner of War.  Decker had taken a fall and just hours before was in the local emergency room.  He did not let that stop him from joining the American Red Cross.  Decker testified in a video made for our local chapter that the American Red Cross saved his life while he was a P.O.W. “There is nothing I wouldn’t do for the Red Cross”, Decker said.

On Saturday I had the privilege to speak to several more Veterans. I should have known that this “Greatest Generation” would not let a little bad weather stop them from turning out. I spoke to Tom Eden, Sr. who embraced the day and the volunteer acting as his escort. He eagerly told me of his love for the Red Cross and how when he was at war he never felt alone…because he had the Red Cross there with him. In fact I was a little uncomfortable as Mr. Eden lavished compliments on me for the work I do with with the Red Cross. I mean he is a Hero, a living legend, and my accomplishments are very small in comparision.  But he went on praising the work of everyone on our team, volunteers and staff alike.  He made light of the weather and told me how he looks forward to the fly-in each year and will attend as long as he is able.  In that moment I had a change in perspective.  This event is not about me, or the Red Cross, or even about raising the money (though we desperately need the funds!). It is about community and bringing everyone together.  It is about our military and our Veterans and the celebration of aviation history. It is about connecting generations and realizing that the Red Cross will be there for every generation, past, present and future.

Later I met Mr. Webb.  He was on the far south end of the airport looking at the Navy and Marine helicopters when I asked him if he would like a ride in my golf cart. He accepted and said it was about time he headed home.  Mr. Webb was not put out by the weather. He explained that he had just moved to Alabama from up north and his daughter had registered him for the fly-in.  This was his first year to attend and he was enjoying himself.  As we rode along in the cart I kept asking him where I should let him out. “Just a little farther,” Mr. Webb replied and we rode on.  We chatted and rode, farther and farther. As we passed the Veteran’s Parking I asked again if this was his stop.  “No, I am a little farther down,” Webb replied. 

Finally we came to the point farthest north on the airport and there alone was his car.  “Did you walk all that way?” I asked in disbelief.  He said, “Yes, it’s OK, I walk every day.”  “ Thank you for the ride little lady and the conversation, I’ll be back next year”, he said and with a wave he was gone.  I sat in my cart watching him, half making sure his car would start and he would get on his way OK, but half trying to believe what I was seeing. An elderly man, in the rain and the cold, walking all over the airport as if it was the warmest spring day and he was decades younger.  I felt ashamed of the bad attitude I had let creep in earlier.  But my shame soon gave way to admiration for all of our Veterans, and I went on.

I waved to Mr. Webb, turned and sped away with my spirit renewed.  Off to the next adventure and to see what other Heroes were waiting around the bend. And proud. Proud to be a part of The American Red Cross.