In the company of family and friends, World War II veteran, Tony Stepanek, received an American flag on Veterans Day from his grandson, 388th Fighter Wing F-16 pilot, Capt. Chris Stepanek, which he carried in his jet as he flew combat missions over Iraq during his last deployment there.
"Grandpa, you are an inspiration to me with your service to our country during World War II," the captain told his elder during a ceremony to honor all veterans on Veterans Day, hosted by the Brighton Gardens Rest Home in Salt Lake City. Tony resides there with his wife, Jane.
The rest home hosts a Veterans Day ceremony each year, said the facility's director of community relations, Faye Keller. Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Garlan Buckley, 75th Air Base Wing, presided over this year's ceremony, and other military personnel from all branches lined up near the podium to be honored at the conclusion of the event. Residents of the rest home applauded their efforts in the war on terrorism.
Keller estimates that approximately 10 residents at the Brighton Gardens Rest Home are veterans of foreign wars, including Tony.
In 1944, Tony joined the 310th Infantry Regiment of the 78th Lightning Infantry Division in the invasion of Normandy and in 1945 his division took the railway bridge at Remagen, Germany. The bridge capture is considered a strategic turning point during WWII that helped Allies take over Berlin. Tony has a Purple Heart and other combat medals, but he humbly declines to list them.
"A man of great humility, Mr. Stepanek downplays his role in the final phase of the Allied annihilation of Nazi Germany," Keller noted in a recent news release about the honor.
"I was very fortunate in coming out of the situations I did," Tony said about his experience during WWII. "It gave me the responsibility to serve as an example for the younger kids to come pounding in after us. Certainly, Chris is doing an outstanding job of that."
Capt. Stepanek deployed to Iraq with the 4th Fighter Squadron in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from January through May this year and logged over 45 combat missions to support ground troops. During several of those missions, the captain placed an American flag in his cockpit as an act of patriotism, a tradition that has gained popularity during the wars on terrorism.
The flag presented to Tony on Nov. 11 held special significance for both veterans.
"This flag represents two generations who served in two different wars," Capt. Stepanek said.
"It represents a nation that has survived so much and has remained strong," added Tony. "I hope it continues to be strong and produce people like Chris."
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