A hero's welcome for three East Meadow veterans

Thomas Carbone could not believe his eyes when he dropped off his father and two of fellow veterans at Kennedy Airport on March 10.

The trio, with dozens of other veterans, shook hands with a line of American Airlines crew and current servicemen as they boarded a plane to Washington, D.C. for a special event.

"I was in tears," Carbone said of watching the emotional scene.

   
His father, Jim Carbone, Otto Jensen and Carmine J. Cella, members of East Meadow VFW Post No. 2736, were embarking on this installment of the Honor Flight, a program that offers World War II veterans a chance to visit the war monument in Washington while also expressing thanks to those who served. About 36,000 veterans have been transported by the Honor Flight Network to see their war memorials.
   
"There was nothing like this," Jim Carbone said.
   
This particular Honor Flight paid homage to World War II veterans who served in the Pacific. The event was co-sponsored by HBO, American Airlines and Marriott. American Airlines crew members volunteered their time to serve the approximately 250 veterans who flew in from different parts of the country. Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg spoke to the veterans on behalf of HBO and his new miniseries focusing on the Pacific during the war.
   
As they landed in Washington, flags waved and the veterans were saluted. They enjoyed two days and two nights of meals, sightseeing, storytelling and a screening of Casablanca and "The Pacific."
   
More than a half-century after his discharge, Jensen doesn't remember ever getting an expression of gratitude more than he did with the Honor Flight.
   
"When I came home after the war, I went into the subway and that was it," Jensen said.
   
"Everything was so perfect," Cella said of the event. "I don't know what else to say."