More than 50 years after returning from Vietnam, Thomas Crawford still remembers the advice his commanding officer gave when his unit arrived in Providence, Rhode Island. Put on civilian clothes for the final leg of your journey home, they were told, to avoid being harassed by people angry about the war.
That experience in 1970 has stayed with Crawford the rest of his life, and it's one reason why a trip he took with dozens of other veterans in 2017 was so meaningful. When he was able to visit Washington, D.C., as part of the Cayuga County Operation Enduring Gratitude trip, Crawford and his fellow Vietnam veterans finally felt like heroes.
"People down there were shaking our hands and patting us on the back, and they gave us a welcome home that we never saw before," Crawford said last week.
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Giving as many Cayuga County veterans that same experience is one reason Crawford has volunteered for Operation Enduring Gratitude, a local program that takes veterans on a three-day, all-expenses-paid bus trip to the nation's capital so they can see the war memorials that stand in their honor. For many who have gone on the first two trips, in 2012 and 2017, it was the first time seeing these sites in person.
The next trip is being planned for May 2022, and one of Operation Enduring Gratitude's biggest fundraisers to make the trip possible is taking place this spring. Organizers are bringing the Healing Field American flag display back to Auburn's Hoopes Park for Memorial Day weekend, with proceeds from sales of those flags going toward the next trip for veterans.
Operation Enduring Gratitude began organizing for its first trip in 2010. David Pappert, who helped start the program and has been a coordinator for all three trips, said the idea started at the Auburn Knights of Columbus center where many World War II veterans were members. The original thought was to raise money to send some of the veterans who had never seen the World War II memorial in Washington on a 24-hour trip that had been organized in Onondaga County, but they eventually realized they wanted to give the participants more time to see sites and get to know each other.
The result was a three-day, two-night trip that starts with an early-morning departure from Auburn on Friday, and concludes with their return on Sunday night.聽
And throughout the entire trip, the veterans are treated like superstars. On the way down, a huge celebration is held at a VFW post in Pennsylvania. A night-tour of Washington takes place after the arrive Friday, before a day of seeing monuments on the National Mall. A cruise on the Potomac River takes place Saturday night, and Sunday includes a Mass and a concluding visit to Arlington National Cemetery.
Pappert said providing the experience of meeting fellow veterans from Cayuga County and getting to know them is a main reasons for spreading Operation Enduring Gratitude over three days.
David Pappert of Operation Enduring Gratitude was the guest for a March 30 episode of "Beyond the Front Page with Guy Cosentino" to discuss how this spring's Healing Field flag display fundraiser in Auburn is supporting efforts for a trip for veterans to see the monuments in Washington, D.C. The show was recorded and produced by students at Cayuga Community College.
"People that were strangers on Friday morning are friends and looking forward to continue seeing each other by Sunday night," he said. "We've had quite a few people let us know it was life-changing for them."
That was the case for Crawford, who was a Navy combat engineer and served two Vietnam tours from 1968 to 1970.
"It was phenomenal," he said. "I still know every one of those guys."
Gallery: 2017 Operation Enduring Gratitude
World War II veteran Robert Strohm shows off a kiss while heading toward the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., during a trip with Operation Enduring Gratitude in April 2017.
Cayuga County veterans are greeted during a flag ceremony in Washington D.C. on Saturday as part of Operation Enduring Gratitude.
World War II veteran Adam Luziani holds a flag presented to him at a ceremony, part of Operation Enduring Gratitude, in Washington D.C. Saturday.聽
Cayuga County Vietnam War veterans gather in front of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C. as part of Operation Enduring Gratitude on Saturday.
Members of the U.S. color guard wait to present flags to veterans at the National World War II Memorial on the Operation Enduring Gratitude trip Saturday.
Former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole greets World War II veteran Robert Strohm, of Auburn, near the National World War II Memorial聽during a trip with Operation Enduring Gratitude in April 2017.
About 100 volunteers and veterans gather for a group photo at the National World War II Memorial for Operation Enduring Gratitude on Saturday.
Members of the U.S. Air Force perform a flag ceremony for veterans attending the Operation Enduring Gratitude trip sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Post 207 on Saturday.
Vietnam War veterans stand near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. on Saturday.
Korean War veteran Michael Emperato shakes hands with former Sen. Bob Dole in Washington D.C. as part of Operation Enduring Gratitude on Saturday.
Mel Spurling, a Vietnam War veteran, travels to the National World War II Memorial on Saturday with Operation Enduring Gratitude.聽
Cayuga County veterans and guests view the National World War II Memorial in rainy Washington D.C. on Saturday as part of Operation Enduring Gratitude.聽
The National World War II Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial in the distance on a rainy Saturday in Washington D.C.
Veterans and guests tour the National World War II Memorial in the rain on Saturday in Washington D.C.
U.S. Navy veterans gather in Washington D.C. on Saturday as part of Operation Enduring Gratitude.聽
The Marine Corps Memorial in Washington D.C.
U.S. Marine Corps veterans visit their memorial in Washington D.C. on Saturday.
The U.S. Color Guard presents flags to Cayuga County veterans during Operation Enduring Gratitude in Washington D.C. on Saturday.
Cayuga County veterans gather at the National World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. on Saturday.
Steven and John Rhodes visit the Washington D.C. attraction they've always want to see, the Lincoln Memorial, during Operation Enduring Gratitude on Saturday.
Korean War veterans gather in Washington D.C. as part of Operation Enduring Gratitude on Saturday.
Mists and clouds roll around the nation's capital and the Washington Monument on Saturday.
Cayuga County veterans, who served in the U.S. Air Force, gather at their monument in Washington D.C. as part of Operation Enduring Gratitude on Saturday.
The U.S. Marine Corps Memorial in Washington D.C.
The Korean War Memorial in Washington D.C.
Karima Hurt with the National Park Service gives a tour of the Vietnam War memorials in Washington D.C. on Saturday.
Vietnam War veteran Jack Kulis listens to a talk about the war memorial at Operation Enduring Gratitude in Washington D.C. on Saturday.
Vietnam War veteran Robert Pesek points to a name on the memorial in Washington D.C. on Saturday.
Vietnam War veteran Ralph DeMasi of Skaneateles, right, observes the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial with his grandson, 8-year-old Sam Lumia, right, during Operation Enduring Gratitude on Saturday.
Operation Enduring Gratitude participants hop on a tram for a tour of Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday.
Robert F. Kennedy memorial at Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday.聽
Vietnam War veteran Jerry Kelly of Auburn looks out on the Potomac River in Washington D.C. on Saturday evening.
President John F. Kennedy's memorial at Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday.
Evening on the Potomac River during Operation Enduring Gratitude in Washington D.C.
Vietnam War veteran David Tarleton, left, and Korean War veteran John Spinelli, right, are greeted by a member of the U.S. Air Force during a flag presentation ceremony in Washington D.C. on Saturday.
Vietnam War veteran Ralph DeMasi of Skaneateles reflects on the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial in Washington D.C. on Saturday.
Cayuga County veterans are greeted on their way to the National World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. on Saturday.
Korean War veteran Joseph Christiantelli (center) at the National World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. on Saturday.
Vietnam War veteran Jim Lamay, left, Korean War veteran John Morabito, center, and Vietnam War veteran John Allen at the U.S. Navy Memorial on Saturday.
View from the President John F. Kennedy memorial at Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday.
A woman thanks Vietnam War veteran Dale Bush for his service during the Operation Enduring Gratitude trip to Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday.
Cayuga County veterans who served in the U.S. Army gather for a portrait at Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday during Operation Enduring Gratitude.
Korean War veterans, who served in the U.S. Coast Guard, Anthony Collella Jr. and Joe Casper, visit the U.S. Coast Guard memorial in Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday.
A guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier marches in Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday.
Veterans watch at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery during Operation Enduring Gratitude on Sunday.
Vietnam War veterans and U.S. Navy Seabees Thomas Crawford Jr., left, David Reyer, center, and聽John Allen, right, stand at their monument during the 2017 Operation Enduring Gratitude trip.
A guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday.
Arlington National Cemetery is shown on Sunday.
A guard marches at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday.
A ceremony takes place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday.
The amphitheater at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday.
A guard marches at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday.
Soldiers perform a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday.
Soldiers perform a wreathe-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday.
Soldiers perform a wreathe-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday.
Changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday.
Visitors view the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday.
Arlington National Cemetery.
View of the U.S. Air Force Memorial from Arlington National Cemetery.
Arlington National Cemetery staff perform work on a grave Sunday.
Arlington National Cemetery.
U.S. Army veterans traveling with Operation Enduring Gratitude stand in Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday.
U.S. Army veterans stand in Arlington National Cemetery during the聽Operation Enduring Gratitude trip Sunday.
Veterans view the John F. Kennedy memorial in Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday.
Vietnam War veterans stand at the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial in Washington D.C. on Saturday.
A plane flies in on the Potomac River Saturday evening while Auburn-area veterans see Washington D.C. by boat.
From left to right: Serving past and present in the U.S. Air Force, Jim Orman, Becca Eldred, Thomas Prentice and Bruce Langerlan stand at the U.S. Air Force memorial on Saturday.
Joseph Soccio, a World War II and Korean War veteran, holds an American Flag during the聽Operation Enduring Gratitude trip to Washington D.C.
Operation Enduring Gratitude Coordinator David Pappert, left, photographer Marty LaVor, center, and Knights of Columbus Council 207 Grand Knight Jack Baraczek, get ready to take photos during the聽Operation Enduring Gratitude trip to Washington D.C. on Saturday.
Photographer Marty LaVor shoots portraits at the National World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. on Saturday.
Anthony Calandra, director of Security and Public Safety for Navy Installations Command, greets veterans at the Hilton in Crystal City on Friday night.
Korean War veteran Michael Trapani and his grandson are greeted by another veteran visiting Washington D.C. Saturday.
Operation Enduring Gratitude medics and nurses stand before the Vietnam Women's Memorial Statue in Washington D.C. on Saturday.
Vietnam War veteran Dale Bush leaves a note at the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial in Washington D.C. on Saturday.
Vietnam War veteran Jim Orman and World War II veteran Adam Luziani watch a flag ceremony near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. Saturday morning.
World War II veterans Arvil Shea, Joseph Soccio and Korean War veteran John Rhodes watch the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery Sunday.
Operation Enduring Gratitude participants stand at the National World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. in 2017.
Jeremy Boyer can be reached at (315) 282-2231 or jeremy.boyer@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @CitizenBoyer
