This past June, our company sponsored a casual day to support the Honor Flight! Almost $2,000 was raised in our offices and donated to this worthy cause.
Stars & Stripes Honor Flights run once or twice a year, and gives WWII veterans a chance to visit Washington DC and view their memorial, along with several other memorials and historic sites. On the return flight "mail call" is held. Each veteran gets a letter of appreciation. Letters are written by school children, community and family members. They express the thanks that was never spoken when these vets returned from war. They moved on with life, married, started families and left all talk of their war experiences locked away.
Upon their return to the home airports, there is a welcome home, not unlike those seen today for service members returning from war. Many tears are shed, both in the crowd and on the plane. Veterans who have been silent so long, open up to others and relive their experiences. It is very moving. If you ever get a chance to be a guardian, a welcome home participant, I encourage that.
This experience came a little too late for my family. We recently got a call from the Honor Flight saying that my step father John McGowan was scheduled for the next Honor Flight on October 8th. Sadly, I had to tell the volunteer calling, that Jack had passed away in July. He would have been so happy to have experienced this.
If you know a veteran from the Greatest Generation, who has not gone on the Honor Flight, check it out and get them on the list! Every day counts......
photo credit Honor Flight
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