Gibson Area Hospital & Health Services | Gibson gets it! | Fall/Winter 2017

Gibson gets it! 21 Boundy was among 73 WorldWar II veterans and their escorts who were invited to take part in an Honor Flight to visit the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. The trip of a lifetime Over the span of his 92 years, Ronald “Sonny” Boundy, a lifetime resident of Melvin and current resident of the G bson Area Hospital Long Term Care Annex, has had many memorable experiences. Among those he most cherishes are marrying the love of his life, Doris; celebrating the births of his three children, Gary, Larry and Terri; and farming on Ford County land for 67 years. More recently, he added another unforgettable memory. Boundy was among 73 World War II veterans and their escorts who were invited to take part in an Honor Flight to visit the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. Boundy, who served in the Navy from 1944 to 1946, says that the Honor Flight was an unbeatable experience. Well-wishers lined the corridors of the Peoria airport to cheer the veterans on during their departure. Boundy was proudly accompanied by his son Larry, a veteran himself of the Vietnam War. “I never had anything like that in my life,” says Boundy. “I couldn’t believe that anyone would care about an old vet like me, but they do, and they showed it.” The Honor Flight, a Compassus Hospice program serving in partnership with the Greater Peoria Honor Flight Network, took off for Washington D.C. at 9 a.m., giving Boundy and the other passengers a full afternoon to visit the monuments dedicated to the service and sacrifice of World War II veterans. Boundy was surprised by the ceremonious changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery and found himself moved by the clicking of the guard’s heels every 21 seconds, recognizing the honor of the 21-gun salute. Upon returning to Peoria 12 hours later, Boundy was astonished that he and his travel comrades were again greeted by the fanfare of supporters, along with the stirring sounds of bagpipes, to cap off the once-in-a-lifetime experience.