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WRAL-FM Execs Honor Family Members with Final Triangle Flight of Honor
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WRAL-FM’s Robert Wallace (center) serves as guardian for two WWII veterans on the final Triangle Flight of Honor on April 18th. |
 View the Slideshow |
The last Triangle Flight of Honor made the daytrip to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, April 18, 2012, and two WRAL-FM executives were on board with the planeload of WWII veterans.
WRAL-FM General Sales Manager Robert Wallace and WRAL-FM Vice President & General Manager Ardie Gregory have been involved with the Triangle Flight of Honor committee since its inception. Both jumped at the chance to serve as guardians on the final flight.
“My role was very minimal, but Capitol Broadcasting embraced this group in a very monumental way and I was very proud of our company’s effort,” said Wallace.
WRAL-FM’s Ardie Gregory walks around the WWII memorial with her veterans. |
Gregory and Wallace served as guardians to two of the travelling veterans each. They flew on the chartered flight to D.C. together, toured the WWII memorial, got a visit from Senator Richard Burr, and led their vets through the packed house of cheering family, friends, and onlookers at RDU on their return.
Both said the day was inspirational and emotional.
“I am not a veteran, but my interest primarily in participating in this was because my father was a WW II veteran,” said Wallace. “My dad passed away in 2007 and I was motivated by the opportunity to honor my dad in some small way and also all the veterans that did so much for our country in WWII. No doubt about it; they are the greatest generation; sacrificed so much and my dad never felt as though he had done anything special, he just did what his country asked him to and he was proud to serve. I saw the exact same attitude and humility in all of these men that I saw in my own father.”
Gregory agreed.
“I come from a family with military service, an uncle wounded at Pearl Harbor, my brother was in the Air Force (Vietnam conflict/war) and my father was a WWII vet serving in the Navy from 1942-1945,” she said. “Honoring all of these Vets has given me the opportunity to also remember my family’s service to our country. The actual day was one I won’t ever forget. Leaving RDU with the water cannon salute and arriving in DC to a welcome that had all of us crying was the start to a magical day. My favorite part was standing on the hill over looking all of DC at the Air Force Memorial. It was very moving. From now on when someone tells me to go to ‘my happy place’ that’s it!”
WRAL-TV’s Jackie Hyland poses with two veterans and a paramedic who will be on the flight with her. |
WRAL-TV Anchor/Reporter Jackie Hyland also joined the final Triangle Flight of Honor. A bevy of Capitol Broadcasting personalities and other staffers have been on the previous seven flights over the past two years.
See all the WRAL coverage of the flights, photos, and more on WRAL.com’s Triangle Flight of Honor section.
Learn more about the Triangle Flights of Honor on their website.
Thanks to WRAL-FM’s Robert Wallace for these capcom photos. Thanks to WRAL-TV for the photo of Jackie Hyland.
