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Web Posted : 12/08/2001 12:00 AM
FREDERICKSBURG — A heroes' welcome greeted more than 300 survivors of Pearl Harbor who were honored Friday with speeches, a patriotic parade and special receptions.
"The respect the people have given us is heartwarming," said Robert Antell, 81, a Navy vet from Massachusetts. "You're almost glad you were there."
Others wouldn't go quite that far, but the veterans clearly were touched by the outpouring of adulation from 5,000 people at a memorial service, as well as from even larger crowd later at a parade.
The graying survivors' gratitude wasn't lost on Kimberly Meier and other spectators.
"The old guys are all happy," the 18-year-old Fredericksburg resident said as truck after truck loaded with flag-waving vets rolled by in the parade. "It's contagious. They're not forgotten."
Hawaiian shirts were the unofficial uniform of the day among the survivors, many of whom also sported canes, walkers, oxygen tanks and hearing aids.
"This is probably the last hurrah for a lot of people here," said Howard Schaeffer, 77, a visitor from Plano.
John Podvin of Dallas was among those who wanted their children to get a firsthand look at history, while experiencing newfound patriotism that has followed the Sept. 11 attacks.
"It's important for our young boy to learn how to respect your country and appreciate the veterans who fought for it," said Podvin, 36, whose son Jack, 5, was sitting atop his shoulders.
The National Museum of the Pacific War went all out to make the event memorable. New exhibits opened Friday to high praise from veterans. Gov. Rick Perry and former President George Bush addressed the crowd between fly-overs by jets and vintage planes.
Ryan Abbott of Boerne was among those seeking survivors' autographs.
"He's a hero because he was at Pearl Harbor," said Abbott, 8, while awaiting the signature of Alan Fouts, 81, of San Antonio.
"It's real nice," the Navy vet said. "All the hooting and shouting was over when my ship got back to San Diego in October of 1945."
The unabashed patriotism was clearly exhilarating to Les Bray of Fredericksburg.
"I often thought we wouldn't again show the unity we did in World War II, but we have since Sept. 11," said the 80-year-old local as the parade floats passed. "It's great. It's a feeling a lot of the younger generation never experienced."
After decades of silence about their war experiences, many vets now are opening up in the twilight of their lives, in part due to the recent terror attacks and the major movie on Pearl Harbor.
"I never said too much about my war stories until Sept. 11," said Melvin Schmidt, 77, an Army vet from North Dakota. "But things you have buried for a long time have resurfaced."
David Schmidt, 50, welcomed his father's newfound openness: "We had Japanese bayonets and stuff in the house and we'd ask him questions and he'd never say anything," he recalled.
And there was no shortage of interested listeners for the tales, many of which were recorded this week for the museum's archives.
Approaching survivors took a little extra tack for Reggie Yamanka, one of the few of Japanese descent on hand Friday.
"I understand the sensibilities of the veterans and I take the respectful approach," said Yamanka, 21, a fourth-generation Japanese American who is a petty officer at Lackland AFB. "They just want to tell their stories, and I want to listen."
zmaccormack@express-news.net
12/08/2001
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