Resident Helps Retired WWII Airman Take Virtual Tour through Washington D.C. Memorials
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It was the trip of a lifetime for a World War II Air Force veteran -- all made possible with a little help from a fellow resident at Ohio Living Mount Pleasant – and he never even had to leave the comfort of his own home.
It all began with a story on the local news about Honor Everywhere, a company that offers virtual reality tours to veterans that are unable to physically travel to Washington D.C. and view the memorials dedicated in their honor. According to the company’s website, “ the veterans can look right, left, up, down and feel like they're actually there.”
The tour is watched through a Virtual Reality (VR) headset and a cell phone app that takes the viewer on a 3D tour of the monuments utilizing footage taken during the Honor Flight, which physically flies terminally ill and aging veterans to our nation’s capital to view their memorials. It has flown nearly 160,000 service members there since 2005.
“We’ve taken a few of our residents on the Honor Flight and several went on a Wish of a Lifetime trip to Washington D.C. in 2010.” said Admissions Case Manager Lori Shutrump. “It’s an exhausting and exhilarating experience all at the same time. Both trips were incredible and worth every minute and effort to create a memory, heal a past, and feel appreciated. It’s unfortunate how many of our WWII veterans were and are unable to make the journey.”
When Ohio Living Mount Pleasant resident Jo saw the news story about Honor Everywhere, she knew she had to make this dream come true for her friend Ken who ran communications in the Air Force from 1942 to 1945.
Just before his 100th birthday, Ohio Living Mount Pleasant staff members and residents surprised Ken with the virtual tour in conjunction with Honor Flight. The tour included visits to Arlington National Cemetery, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Korean Memorial, National WWII Memorial and several more.
“Our hearts warmed watching (Ken) virtually visit the memorials, monuments, the crowds, blue sky, and sun reflecting off the brass, copper, and water,” Shutrump recalled. “He kept turning his head slowly back and forth - curiously up and down - saying only a few things when he recognized the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Arlington Cemetery. He was on his journey: quietly in his mind, comfortably in his home.”
Other residents at Ohio Living Mount Pleasant were also able to take the 3D tour and said they were in awe of the technology and enjoyed seeing the memorials built in their honor and the gratitude of a nation.
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