'Day of Honor' in Aurora recognizes World War II 'superheroes'

Amos Nicholson, a 95-year-old World War II veteran, slipped into his Air Force uniform Tuesday to salute fellow vets for their service.

Gathered at East Aurora High School the day before the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, students and community leaders saluted back.

From the flyover by two World War II-era planes that began the morning, to the Pearl Harbor tribute song that concluded the ceremony, everything about the Day of Honor event was designed to say “thank you,” organizers said.

“We appreciate the veterans who have fought and died and given us the freedoms we enjoy so much today,” said East Aurora School District 131 Superintendent Jerome Roberts.

The school played host to more than a dozen World War II veterans — part of what naval science instructor Lt. Cmdr. Darryl Person called “the greatest generation.” About 10 other veterans of later wars also were honored.

“Our cadets will never forget your contribution,” Person told the vets.

Cadets in the school's Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps escorted the veterans into the school for a breakfast reception following the flyover, then walked them into an auditorium packed with students clapping, cheering and waving small American flags.

“We have the youngest folks in the military chain of command here in ROTC honoring the oldest veterans,” Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner said.

Once the veterans entered the auditorium, the crowd viewed “Day of Honor” a documentary produced by Comcast about Honor Flight Chicago, a group that plans excursions to the World War II memorial in Washington, D.C., for area veterans.

While many World War II veterans have died, those who remain — most in their late 80s or 90s — deserve extra recognition, not only on the 70th anniversary of the attack that catapulted the U.S. into the war, but for the rest of their lives, school and community leaders said.

That's why it was so meaningful to have World War II veterans at Tuesday's event, said Mary Pettinato, CEO of Honor Flight Chicago.

“This is a special day all around, and it's special because you're here to celebrate it with us,” Pettinato said.

Veterans felt the same way.

“It's just so nice,” said Paul Linden of Aurora, an 88-year-old World War II veteran.

After the video, students asked the veterans a few questions. Their answers at first were short, but became more detailed as they talked about their service.

“I flew a B-29 Superfortress based out of Saipan in the Mariana Islands to Japan and back,” Linden said. “We were told we'd be flying 25 missions. I flew 39 missions and on the last one, I got into trouble and made an emergency landing.”

Teaching high school students about the generation of veterans who won the freedoms other generations have fought to keep was the Day of Honor's other objective, said State Rep Linda Chapa LaVia, an Aurora Democrat who sponsored the event along with Comcast.

“It's so neat to see the World War II veterans here,” said Jim Tarmichael, a Navy veteran from North Aurora who attended the event in honor of those who fought before him. “They are real superheroes when you think about what they were up against.”