'Serving Then, Serving Now'.

The tragedy of September 11 has inspired the creation of many innovative programs to encourage patriotism, pride, and preparedness among Americans. At the Christian Living Communities--The Village in Centennial, Colorado, six residents who had served in the military "reenlisted." At their induction, the Grand Parlor of the Village was converted to a WWII recruiting station complete with camouflage netting, tents, and other military paraphernalia borrowed from the Buckley Air Force Base (AFB) in Aurora, Colorado. This ceremony celebrated the fruition of an idea to share the living histories of WWII-era veterans before the opportunity vanishes forever.

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George Meister, executive director and U.S. Air Force reservist, knows firsthand about the dedication of America's veterans. "When I was activated in September 2001, I had residents come up to me and say, 'George, you're one of the luckiest guys in the world. You get to put your suit on again and serve your country. If I were 50 years younger, I would do what you're doing.'" Meister explains that although the elderly have achieved most of their life goals, they still need to be needed.

As an Air Force chaplain at Buckley AFB, Meister had an idea and access to the people who could make it happen. The idea: Train veteran "instructors" to teach history to Buckley Airman Leadership School (ALS) students using their real-life experiences to reinforce the Air Force core values of "Integrity First," "Service Before Self," and "Excellence in All We Do." The concept has received enthusiastic support from the school's flight chief and Senior Command leadership. After the program was approved by the educational component of the Air Force's Air University, the veterans from the Village were selected, trained, and ready to go.

"It took about six months to get the program airborne, but it was worth it," says Meister. "We had a bit of discussion naming the program and came up with Operation Gray Eagle--after Operation Bald Eagle was rejected by the group," laughs Meister.

Operation Gray Eagle is still very active at the Village, but Induction Day remains a special memory. The Buckley AFB Honor Guard posted the colors and paid tribute to all veterans during the flag folding ceremony. The four men and two women of Operation Gray Eagle were presented with their equipment (Buckley AFB ball caps, dog tags, canteens [water bottles], etc.), and were escorted to the base, where they were met by the Base Commander, briefed, introduced to other Squadron Commanders, and given a VIP tour of the facilities.

Since that ceremony, Operation Gray Eagle has met with a class at ALS every six weeks for 2 1/2 hours. "The sessions are lively, spirited, and inspirational," says Meister. Stories shared are relevant to the students--and sometimes revealing, whether the anecdotes are funny, poignant, or profound. "In the class," says Meister, "the Gray Eagles and students come to a mutual appreciation of what they have in common despite the differences in today's military."

Meister relates the experience of Joe L., an African-American Gray Eagle who grew up in the South. When his father passed away, he needed to learn a trade and although he had never been more than a few miles from home, at age 17 he enlisted in the Navy hoping to become a mechanic. Within a few weeks, however, he was sent to Pearl Harbor (a year after the bombing) where his job was to tie motorboats to the dock so officers could get on or off easily. It was a menial job and eventually he was promoted to the laundry because, in the early 1940s, the rank of steward was the highest enlisted promotion a black person could achieve. "This man," explains Meister, "understood his job in the context that, no matter how menial the task, he was still serving his country, and the job had to be done." Joe L. eventually ended up at Iwo Jima and witnessed the raising of the flag. "His experience exemplified the core value of Service Before Self," says Meister.

In another example, an older family man, Bob R., was drafted into the Army and eventually ran a POW camp in the Philippines. "His experience addresses the core value of Integrity First," explains Meister. At the camp, most prisoners were Japanese. For some reason, they were ready to kill one of their own when Bob intervened and risked his life to save the "enemy." "It almost brings you to tears when he speaks about how valuable all life is--even the enemy's."

From hearing about the past, the airmen got a new understanding of the veterans' contributions to the military in which they serve today. "For instance," says Meister, "the students couldn't believe that the military was ever segregated." Race, for the most part, is not an issue for them in today's military. They couldn't conceive of a time when women weren't in the military. Bev O. was one of the first women Marines serving stateside as a recruiter, and she talks about the gender barriers she faced and how she managed to do her job anyway. A former Army nurse, Lill M., stationed close to the front lines in Germany during the Battle of the Bulge, tells the students about how the dead and injured (Americans, Allies, and even the enemy) just kept coming in. "The medical personnel had to work day in and day out in harsh conditions at 'maximum effort, operation tempo,'" adds Meister.

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One of the questions from the students is, "Weren't you afraid?" Of course they were anxious and even fearful, but as Gray Eagle Robert B., a torpedo combat pilot, explains, "You took strength from your fellow soldiers. While flying in formation during combat, just looking at the wingman on either side boosts confidence. We'd catch each others' eyes and flash them the high sign." His sentiments were echoed by Paul M., who had flown 156 missions in the Pacific and was involved in the support mission dropping an A-bomb on Japan.

During breaks, the students examine the photos, maps, and other memorabilia that the Gray Eagles have saved from their military days. Some of the veterans still fit into their uniforms. "Buckley AFB is a space command base with phenomenal technologic capability," says Meister, "so the students, seeing these veterans, are amazed at how their uniforms and equipment have evolved."

It is a military tradition, especially in the Air Force, for each squadron to mint a half-dollar-size coin to represent its mission. These veterans were not to be outdone. Their coin is inscribed on the front, "Operation Gray Eagle," and the on flip side, "Serving Then, Serving Now." Meister explains that the coins are traded from one squadron to another as tokens of fellowship. Now when the Gray Eagles hold a class, they can present their coin to the commander or squadron leader and receive one in return.

In addition to the ALS, Operation Gray Eagle has talked to local high schools and community groups. As each year passes, the opportunity to learn from those who were part of history diminishes. The airmen who've learned from these veterans will one day become tomorrow's history lesson, and know the value of history.

Currently, George Meister, Executive Director of the Christian Living Communities--The Village, is serving on active duty at U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and should return to his job at the Village early next year. To send your comments to the author and editors, e-mail [e-mail].

BY SANDRA HOBAN, MANAGING EDITOR

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