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BS6's Dude
Group: Community Supporter
Last Login: 11/16/2008 1:14 PM
Posts: 3,043,
Visits: 4,285
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This is an old story from Dec 2001, but still very inspirational.
I hope we ALL end up as capable and motivated at this fine retired troop - Hoo-YAH!
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Air Force retiree carries Olympic flame
by Staff Sgt. A.J. Bosker
Air Force Print News
WASHINGTON -- Holiday traffic and a cold Dec. 21 evening could not keep a retired Air Force colonel from what he described as a "once in a lifetime experience" -- carrying the Olympic torch.
Frank E. Herrelko Sr., an 88-year-old resident of Bowie, Md., carried the Olympic flame during a special torch relay event and ceremony that paid tribute to veterans of World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. Herrelko, one of the three torchbearers in this tribute, was representing all the men and women who served in the armed forces during World War II.
The relay began at the future site of the National World War II Memorial located at the east end of the West Reflecting Pool near the Washington Monument. Herrelko was the first runner.
As the evening's ceremonies commenced, Herrelko, his lit Olympic torch held proudly in his hand, began his portion of the relay. The orange glow from the Olympic flame, that had made its way from Greece many weeks ago, was reflected as a gleam in his eye, showing everyone in attendance the smile on his face and just how proud he was of this honor.
After running nearly a third of the length of the Reflecting Pool, Herrelko met up with Gilbert Lyons, a Korean War veteran. He passed Lyons the Olympic torch and joined him in the run past the Korean War Veterans Memorial.
Running side-by-side now, Herrelko and Lyons met the third runner, Earl Gillespie, a Vietnam veteran. Lyons passed the torch to Gillespie and the three of them continued together west along the Reflecting Pool toward the Lincoln Memorial and the awaiting crowd.
As they neared the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial's steps, Gillespie passed the Olympic torch back to Herrelko. The three of them continued abreast up the steps, past the cheering onlookers, and paused before the bronze cauldron that was to keep the Olympic flame overnight in Washington.
With his torch held firmly in hand, Herrelko slowly lowered the flame toward the awaiting cauldron. The cheers from the crowd intensified as the Olympic flame was transferred to its resting place before continuing on toward its final destination -- Salt Lake City -- and completion of its 65-day, 13,500-mile journey.
"I'm very proud to have been part of (the Olympic torch relay)," Herrelko said with a smile as family members embraced him. "The cold didn't bother me, (this) was a once in a lifetime experience."
Cheering him on and providing him with moral support throughout the entire run were Edie, his wife; Kathleen, his daughter; two of his three sons, Frank Jr., a PGA golf professional; and David, a retired Air Force brigadier general; and three of his granddaughters, Kathy, Emily and Betsy. His third son, Jeffrey, a retired senior master sergeant, was unable to attend because of job commitments, but "was wishing him well," the family said.
"He's amazing," Emily said proudly of her grandfather. "He could outrun them all."
Those words are more than the boasting of a loving granddaughter. Herrelko is a Senior Olympian with more than 240 gold, silver and bronze medals won at state-, regional-, national- and world-level competitions. Emily said it is "amazing" since he did not even start competing until he was 70-years old.
"David called me one day and told me he just saw an 80-year-old man do the pole vault," Herrelko said. "I became interested in competing in the Senior Olympics and began working out. I just couldn't see growing old and sitting in a chair all day."
"I had to do something," David said as he hugged his father at the end of the Olympic torch ceremony. "If I didn't get him something to do, he'd drive us all crazy."
"He can still compete but I won't let him pole vault or high jump any more," joked Edie, Herrelko's biggest cheerleader and supporter during their 60 years of marriage. "If he breaks his hip or his leg, I don't want to have to take care of him all day."
Herrelko just smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
Besides competing in the Senior Olympics, Herrelko has dedicated much of his time to public work. He has been a guest speaker at local schools and served as a consumer consultant for many of his senior friends.
He has also spent decades serving his country since first enlisting in the Army in 1932.
After spending seven years enlisted, he earned his Reserve commission as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps in aircraft warning and air defense. During World War II he commanded a signal aircraft warning battalion in Iceland.
Upon retiring from the Air Force in 1967, he continued to serve his nation working for the National Security Agency until 1980.
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