x
Breaking News
More () »

Red nose helps veteran hold onto humor while revisiting war memories

It was easy to pick Joe Wilbur Cowing out of the crowd of veterans visiting the monuments in Washington, D.C. He was the only one wearing a red nose.

PORTLAND (NEWS CENTER Maine) -- Joe Wilbur Cowing is very serious about his military service,but he doesn't take himself too seriously. Both sides of his personality were on display as he joined a group of fellow Maine veterans on a tour of the monuments in Washington, D.C. through the Honor Flight program.

“Yesterday they went to the Vietnam Memorial, the Air Force Memorial, and to Arlington Cemetery,” Kelly Cowing said as she scrolled through her cell phone photos at the Portland Jetport, waiting for her husband and father-in-law to disembark from their return flight on Sunday, June 24.

Her husband, Joe Woodward Cowing, is an Iraqi Freedom veteran, and her father-in-law, Joe Wilbur Cowing, is a Korean War Veteran. They were among 41 veterans who took part in the weekend trip.

A group of 41 veterans from Maine poses on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. as part of their Honor Flight tour of the monuments in June 2018

“This was on his bucket list to see the memorials and has mentioned in his war stories over the years, they really did not receive this kind of welcome when they returned home before. It means so much to the veterans they gave so much for us and they lost so much,” she said.

“It was the trip of a lifetime,” the elder Joe said, his face adorned with a red clown nose as his son and Honor Flight Maine chaperone Joe Wilbur moved his father’s wheelchair into the airport terminal. “We are both G.I. Joes,” he joked.

For the younger Joe, it was something he’ll never forget. “It’s just a wonderful opportunity and I hope all veterans get the opportunity to go," he said. "It’s a bonding experience, and just to see two veterans who love our country to be able to experience this together was just really awesome.”

Kelley Cowan, along with her daughter, Madison Longfellow, held back tears as she spotted her grandfather first. “He is quite the character. He had on his red nose to just bring smiles to everyone in the airport,” said Madison.

The two “G.I. Joes,” along with the 39 other servicemen, including World War II and Vietnam veterans, were greeted by hundreds of loved ones holding American flags and hand-written signs. Joe Woodward and Joe Wilbur Cowing say they now have a hundred more stories to share with their families.

Although his own combat experience came during the Korean War, a visit to the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. was still filled with meaning for Joe Wilbur Cowing

“It was very emotional to see all of the veterans of World War II and Korea and Vietnam and to see their memorials and the tears in their eyes as they see the fallen soldiers names,” said Joe Jr.

Joe Sr. hopes that more veterans get their chance to take this journey, before it’s too late. “I think that all veterans deserve to go on the Honor Flight. It’s hard to find them. We are losing 1,000 a month from World War II, Korea and Vietnam,” he said as he was reunited with his family.

Before You Leave, Check This Out