10/01/2025
October 1, 2013. Twelve years ago today, was another Day That Will Live In Infamy. Mississippi Gulf Coast Honor Flight VI had been scheduled for months. At midnight, hours before our flight, the Government shut down when budget talks stalled. All Memorials were closed to the public. We decided we would just go and make the best of things, as it was too late to cancel our flight. When we arrived at the WWII Memorial - we were greeted by news crews from every major media outlet. The barricades surrounded the area. We were viewing and taking photos from the outside so our veterans would have some memories of their trip. The bagpipe began play and the gates opened and our heroes began to enter THEIR Memorial as the crowds cheered. Within minutes, the television networks interrupted programming with "breaking news" live coverage of our 92 WWII veterans entering through the barricades. As we were enjoying our visit the rest of the day - we were unaware that they were becoming an internet "sensation". Photos courtesy of Bobby Koeth III.
