Now that I got a moment to spare....
Thanks for the comments.
I feel personally that by our actions here we can really pass a little back to the gentlemen.
Things haven't always been good for them. Especially after the wars, during the years when communists were trying to climb into power, then the wars of the cold war, the actions of the veterans were often disregarded. "Your problem, why did you go there", was an usual line, with the veterans receiving little help for even their war wounds. Government was at times too bent, too licking to the east, especialy in the 60s and 70s with the powerful communist groups being on the move.
It has been only during the past 20 years when the veterans have truly been appreciated fully. When the Mannerheim Cross receivers, highest Finnish military award, were invited to the President's new year reception for the first time the Double Knight Hans WInd, ace of 70+ kills, refused. "They've had time for 40 years to invite me, I'm not going anymore."
Today the "flight sim generation" digs into aviation history in a new way, something completely new, totally unheard way 10 years ago to "do" aviation. We got lots of people new and old and common interest on old flying - and will to honor our veterans, our war aviators, in a way we couldn't dream of before, as well.
I feel that inviting the vets to our happenings, inviting them for interviews, I've even had some dinners with local WW2 vets with their families and NOT talked a word about aviation, the interaction between "us" and "them" is so wonderful and touching.
We receive from them, they receive appreciation from us and see that there are young people interested in them, in aviation - and young people 15-50 years age who are willing to carry on the old traditions, in their own peculiar way.
And that is something they seem to appreciate.
It is always flattering to hear that the war pilots have talked about *us* in their meetings. Not that WE talk about THEM, but THEY talk about US. Unbelievable! That THEY approve us and are willing to cooperate with us, their chairman hunts good interview targets for us, word spreads among themselves. I've even seen interviews done by me copied among the veterans to each other. Really makes you feel that you're doing something right.
Today a war pilot, who I have never met, never heard of, called me and chatted about things and wanted US to come to his another army veteran guild's meeting to "show that simulator flying stuff". We chatted, he concluded that "we have 50 years difference in age but you guys sound like you're made of right stuff" and said that "I've heard you keep up our old traditions and that is good thing."
Every single one of them is a real gem and I'm happy that after years of "we should go and invite vets to our meetings" has finally came true, that they enjoy coming to our meetings and enjoy talking with us. And that we finally managed to organize this interview process with recording their memories.
Read: Finnish WW2 Air Force veteran's association:
http://www.virtualpilots.fi/hist/WW2History-Pilvenveikot25years.html
