“We can’t all be heroes. Some of us have to stand on the curb and clap as they go by.” Will Rogers sure got that one right. A few years back, Earl Morris, a physician assistant working with vets in Springfield Ohio, asked a couple of his older patients if they ever planned to visit the WWII memorial in D.C. Although the desire was certainly there the resources were lacking. Earl decided to fly one of the vets on his own and the idea of Honor Flights took off. After some due diligence and organization, Earl started the official program which made their first official charter flight flying 40 vets to see the memorial. Since that initial flight back in May of 2005, the Honor Flights Network has flown over 35,000 vets and their families to Washington, D.C. at no cost to them.
Why is this so important? It’s about closure. For many of these WWII vets, their experiences were kept locked away in their memories. They served their country then came home to rebuild their lives but they never forgot their fallen band of brothers. Buck Thompson was a 19 year old farm boy when he enlisted to fight and his stint in the war lead to a lifetime of nightmares. His trip back to the memorial allowed him to reminisce and find peace of mind. And of course, Mr. Thompson still loves his country.
As important as these trips are for the vets, it’s equally important for their families and volunteers. Even folks who have no direct connection to the vets want to be part of the action. Everyone from pilots to nurses to school children writing letters of gratitude step up to show their respect.
To see the benefits of this program, take a look at the many Honor Flight local chapters like the ones in Michigan, Chicago, and South Carolina. Each chapter has their own stories of honor to share.
As more and more flights are booked there is a great sense of urgency. One estimate finds that we are losing close to 1,000 WWII vets a day. The goal is to see to it that each one gets their Honor Flight. Then the flights will continue for the Korean War, Viet Nam War and recent war vets. You can provide assistance in many ways. Even a letter of encouragement and thanks to a vet will be welcomed. They earned the honor. Let’s make sure it gets paid!
And if you know someone who has been part of an Honor Flight, we’d love to hear the story. Thanks.
— Meyer
