By Chris Stone

Copyright timesofsandiego

When the Rev. Edward Busch first heard the Rev. Babs Marie Meairs, a fellow Episcopal priest, speak at the altar, he noticed the awe of his congregation.

Few had seen a female priest before. But as he observed her, his awe became “awww,” he said.

Now married 31 years, Busch and Meairs shared something significant this weekend. Both are military veterans and were among three married couples on the fall Honor Flight San Diego trip to Washington, D.C.

Veterans and their caregivers returned Sunday to San Diego International Airport.

Until now, Honor Flight San Diego hasn’t allowed spouses to be guardians on the three-day semi-annual trips to visit military memorials. But for the couples, it was different. All spouses were veterans and so they were allowed for the first time.

In this case, the Rancho Bernardo pair were veterans of the Vietnam War.

Ninety veterans of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War returned to a boisterous homecoming at Terminal 2. The oldest was Dick Burns, a 98-year-old World War II veteran.

Hundreds gathered in the baggage claim area, wearing patriotic clothing, carrying Welcome Home signs and holding on to balloons. Cubs Scouts munched on donuts and greeted the veterans.

Lining both sides of an aisle, fellow veterans, family members and military supporters shook hands with arriving veterans, thanked them for their service and cheered for them.

Among the participants were also two sets of brothers and two sisters who accompanied each other and six female veterans.

Meairs said attending the Military Women’s Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery was especially meaningful.

She said she appreciated “seeing that commitment and that history, and the struggles of women who have had their own additional struggles of being accepted and opportunities to be able to serve. And so, yeah, that that really added a lot to the weekend to be sharing this with other veterans.”

Busch’s reaction to the trip?

“We haven’t started to even to reflect on it,” said the 95-year-old retiree. “But I’m sure it will have a very great impact on us.”

But he remarked: “What I got out of it was seeing humanity and God’s love poured out through people who cared and were willing to not only extend themselves in a short time, but to give of themselves financially and physically and emotionally, and it was so obvious. It was wonderful.

“And that’s what makes the service meaningful, that it’s appreciated by somebody and the recognition that it has made a difference — a positive difference.”

On Honor Flight, “camaraderie is a big part of this,” said Meairs, 75. “It helps them feel better about themselves and that frees them up to be able to tell their stories and be more present with their families.”

Having so much in common — in terms of coming from families having many generations of service in the armed forces and both being clergy members — has aided them on their life journey together.

“It helps because the military culture is different,” she said. When the couple came to San Diego 24 years ago, Meairs became active in the Marine Corps League and the Women Marines Association.

Busch, a surgeon in the Army for seven years and then at the Veterans Administration, heard many military stories and met veterans as did Meairs, who worked as a chaplain for the VA.

“It gives a sense of compassion and camaraderie and appreciation because so much of the country doesn’t even realize how much impact there is how many people are serving,” she said.
In addition, serving in the military has a lifelong impact, Busch said.

Members don’t serve and “get over it when it’s over,” he said. “Because whatever happens to the people, whether it’s internal and not visible or whether it’s a physical injury and visible are something that has a complete recovery. The internal and external changes are lifelong.”

Meairs, who reached the rank of captain during her years with the U.S. Marine Corps from 1972 and 1976, long had an interest in providing spiritual support of military members. She attended Officer Candidate School.

When she joined the Marines, no woman was serving as a military chaplain. But when the opportunity arose, she went to seminary and was ordained in her church in 2007. After working at several churches, she later switched to hospital chaplaincy.

In 1999, Meairs was recognized as the VA Chaplain of the Year. She also served on a grief support team in New York following 9/11. Later, she established a clinical pastoral education program in San Diego.

Busch practiced medicine in Texas until 2001, when he moved to San Diego and worked at the VA until 2010 when he turned 80. He spent more that 65 years in the medical field.

He began training as a surgeon in 1955, graduating from the University of Illinois College of Medicine and joining the Army in 1957 where he was stationed at Valley Forge Army Hospital in Pennsylvania.

“George was not there,” he joked, referring to Washington.