‘A really special thing’: Concord couple collects letters for WWII veteran
Jack and Linda Dianis pack up the letters that have been collected for Jack’s father, John, as they prepare for his Honor Flight to Washington. GEOFF FORESTER / Monitor staff
The Army paperwork for veteran John Dianis. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff
Jack Dianis holds a photo of his father, John, as he prepares for his Honor Flight to Washington. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff
Some of the letters that were sent to John Dianis as he prepares to go on his Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff
John Dianis participated in an honor flight April 9-11. Photo courtesy Linda Dianis
WWII veteran John Dianis (left) participated in an honor flight in mid-April, 2025. His son, Jack Dianis (middle), presented him with the Concord letters on the plane back to Arizona. Jack Dianis—Courtesy
WWII veteran John Dianis participated in an honor flight with 31 other veterans in mid-April, 2025. Jack Dianis—Courtesy
WWII veteran John Dianis participated in an honor flight in mid-April, 2025. He visited the WWII memorial in Washington D.C. as part of the voyage. Jack Dianis—Courtesy
| Published: 04-19-2025 9:01 AM |
In an overwhelming show of gratitude, Concord-area residents wrote and mailed letters of appreciation to John Dianis, a 99-year-old World War II veteran participating in an honor flight to Washington D.C.
Although John resides in Arizona, his son Jack lives in Concord with his wife, Linda. Ahead of the honor flight, which took place last week, the couple issued a call to their family, friends and fellow Concord residents on Facebook, asking people to mail in letters they would present to John at the end of the trip. The influx they received far exceeded any hopes they had for the project.
“We had people hand-deliver notes to us from town to make sure they would get here on time,” said Linda Dianis. “The content of the letters was overwhelming, just amazing.”
The couple collected over 70 letters from individuals in the area, including some from Girl Scout troops and others from the Honor Flight organization itself.
“It was a really special thing for him,” said Linda.
John served in the U.S. Army Air Corps for 19 months during World War II. He was trained in flight navigation and as a bomber gunner. The war began winding down just as he finished training, so he did not end up being deployed overseas. After the war, John worked as a milkman, then spent years as the executive director of the National Monument Builders Association before moving into consulting.
He was the only World War II veteran among the 32 veterans on the honor flight, which took the former service members to monuments and war memorials around D.C.
When Jack gave his father the letters at the end of the voyage, John got teary-eyed and said the trip was one of the best experiences of his life.
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“We cannot thank enough all the people who came together, the people who rallied to honor his service and to thank him. We were overwhelmed, and so was he. It was unexpected and so much appreciated,” Jack said. “I think that’s what really tipped him over to say it was one of the best experiences of his life. He couldn’t get over it. He brought all the letters home, and now he says he’s going to write thank you notes to everyone.”
Rachel Wachman can be reached at rwachman@cmonitor.com
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