Final Toast of the Doolittle Raiders
Saturday, November 9 will be the final reunion of the last four remaining veterans of the Doolittle Raid. There are numerous activities for the public to attend during the reunion, which will take place at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. For more info, visit http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/new...p?id=123368299.
There is a great op-ed on CNN about the Raiders here: http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/03/opinio...dal/index.html
If you plan on attending, please post here. There are five of us EAA staffers that are driving down to attend - maybe we can have a little EAA member meetup or something while there.
Zack
doolittle raiders final toast
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Zack Baughman
Saturday, November 9 will be the final reunion of the last four remaining veterans of the Doolittle Raid. There are numerous activities for the public to attend during the reunion, which will take place at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. For more info, visit
http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/new...p?id=123368299.
There is a great op-ed on CNN about the Raiders here:
http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/03/opinio...dal/index.html
If you plan on attending, please post here. There are five of us EAA staffers that are driving down to attend - maybe we can have a little EAA member meetup or something while there.
Zack
The event this saturday is the final gathering of the Raiders to toast "those that have gone". The Raiders decided over a year ago, that the 71st reunion at Ft Walton Beach (Eglin) would be the last "Reunion" . As we all know, the long standing tradition was that when there was only two Raiders remaining, they agreed that the 1896 Hennesy would be opened for a "final toast" to "Those that have gone" (Doolittle's words). After Tom Griffin passed last February, the surviving raiders gathered in private and decided that due to the difficulties with travel and health they were beginning to experience, they would not risk waiting till there was only two left and possibly be in too poor of health to get together for the final toast. They decided to do it while they could still travel and at least three attend. Bob Hite's health will make his presence impossible. Long ago the Raiders made a promise to the National Museum of the United States Air Force that when the time came for the "final toast" they would come back to the museum, where the goblets are displayed (on loan from the Raiders) .
Only once in the history of the goblets and the raiders, have they let anyone into to the room for their toast "to those that have gone". I was fortunate enough to be one of those back in 2002 in Columbia SC. I sat in my chair in silence afterwards for quite a while. I had never witnessed anything as solemn and emotional. The Raiders themselves decided this final toast would be with family and invited guests and for history's sake, allow it to be recorded.
There will be an outdoor pubic memorial service at the Raider's monument outside the National Museum at 2pm on the 9th. Bring a small flag and welcome the Raiders when they arrive. I was honored to again be asked to lead a flight of B-25's for a missing man salute flight over that ceremony. this will be the last time the Raiders plan on being together publicly. This is the final page in the final chapter of one of our country's greatest military missions and traditions. After Saturday, it will be up to all of us to not let the memory of the Raiders and their famous mission pass into obscurity.
Larry Kelley
Owner/pilot/mechanic
B25 Panchito