Jason Arndt, jarndt@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Jason Arndt Upon his return with the Old Glory Honor Flight from Washington, D.C., last month, Lester Bondowski was greeted at the airport with a sign created by his son-in-law, Jeff Weigert, of New Berlin.
A man who has moved people with his music was himself moved to tears when discussing his recent trip to Washington, D.C., with the Old Glory Honor Flight last month.
Lester Bondowski, 85, of Shawano, said he was honored to join about 100 other veterans April 9 on Mission 28 of the honor flight. The Honor Flight Network assists veterans make once-in-a-lifetime trips to Washington to visit war memorials and other sights for free.
“We drove all over that city, and I have never been so amazed,” Bondowski said. “It is the most awesome thing I have ever seen. It was unbelievable.”
Traveling with his son, Joseph, of Milwaukee, Bondowski explored the White House, Arlington National Cemetery, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and the gravesite of Audie Murphy. Murphy was the nation’s most decorated World War II combat soldier and was also a film star.
The most moving moments came, however, as he read letters from family members on the trip home and then when the veterans received a rousing welcome after they returned to the Outagamie County Airport.
The veterans were asked to remain behind a curtain at the airport, so they knew something was up, Bondowski said.
“We could sense there was something going on, and then when they opened up that curtain, there were 2,000 people waiting to greet us after we got off that plane,” he said. “I cannot believe all of those people were being so nice to me.”
The welcoming party included Bondowski’s daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Jeff Weigert, of New Berlin, and dozens of family members that came from the Milwaukee area.
Bondowski was drafted and served in the field artillery of the 25th Infantry Division of the Army from 1951-53, seeing action in the Korean War. He held the rank of private first class.
“I was a truck driver,” he recalled. “I hauled ammo and was the lookout for fellow soldiers. I went up on a hill and directed fire toward the enemy.”
After three years of service, he was relieved to return home to Milwaukee.
“My most memorable experience was when my commander told me I could go home,” Bondowski said. “I was happy for it.”
After he coming home, Bondowski took a position as a truck driver with Bliffert Lumber in Milwaukee. He retired in 1990 and moved to Shawano.
When not working, Bondowski built a reputation for his musical talent playing the concertina.
“I was pretty popular in Milwaukee for awhile, but there is more of a love for my style up here,” said Bondowski, who was inducted in the the World Congress Concertina Hall of Fame in 1984.
Bondowski still plays a variety of music, including polka, waltz, old country and old rock, and volunteers to entertain residents at area nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
With Memorial Day approaching, Bondowski noted that people often forget the veterans who did not fight overseas but were essential to success on the battlefield.
“I kind of feel sorry for those people that never got a chance to go overseas because nobody is really honoring them,” Bondowski said. “They were staying in the states and teaching the guys how to fight.”