HONOR FLIGHT Network: A Call to Honor WWII VETS

Today, I heard about a group, and it made tears come to my eyes.

WWII vets had to wait a long time to get a real monument on the Mall in Washington, DC. But what a memorial it is! Sadly, it comes at a time when MOST of the Vets who fought that war are dying, ill, or just unable to travel due to age. Most would be somewhere around my father's age, and Dad would have been 82 this past April.

But there was man a  who had a vision, and that vision is spreading. His vision? Fly as many WWII Vets as possible to DC to see THEIR  Memorial before they have all left us forever.

In addition to being a Physician Assistant, Earl is also a private pilot and member of one of our nation's largest and best aero clubs located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,  Dayton, Ohio.  In December of 2004, Earl asked one of his WWII Veteran patients if he could personally fly him out to DC, free of charge, to visit his memorial.  Mr. Loy broke down and cried.  He said at his age he would probably never get to see his memorial.  He accepted the offer.  A second WWII Veteran was asked the same question a week later.  He too cried and enthusiastically accepted a trip to DC.  Realizing that the desire was so great, Earl started to ask for help from other pilots to make these hopes and dreams a reality.  In January of 2005, Earl addressed about 150 members of the aero club during a safety meeting, outlining a volunteer program to fly veterans to their memorial.  There were two major stipulations to his request.  The first was that the veterans pay nothing.  The entire aircraft rental ($600 to $1200 for the day) would have to be paid solely by the pilots.  The second was that the pilots personally escort the veterans around DC the entire day.   After Earl spoke, 11 pilots who had never met his patients volunteered to make their dream a reality.  Honor Flight was born.

Dad never saw the Memorial. Dad died too young June 3, 1987, at age 62, long before it was built.

I have been there. And I 'told' him one of those times that I wish he could have lived to have seen it! 

Meet the Board of Directors that help to make this possible for WWII Vets. Go here to see photos of some of those who have made the trip. There is a way that even I, with little, can send someone else to make the trip that my Dad cannot make, also, by making a donation in his name. I will, soon, be doing just that, but have to wait for a little bit of time and money to come in. I will pass up taking my vacation that cancer so rudely interrupted in order to be able to 'do' this. My vacation can come later, like Jan or Mar of next year.

Sadly, I went to the Flight Schedule page and saw NO flights from WISCONSIN. Is that because no one has heard of it, or because no one has the resources, or because no one cares? I don't think it is the latter. We have many Vets living in the Vets Home in King WI, and many living elsewhere in WI. We have the Home of the EAA here, and MANY pilots! How about getting the word to some of them, and finding ways to add WISCONSIN WWII Vets to this list? They have ways that corporations or organizations can sponsor an entire trip.

Note that I, too, have witnessed WWII vets tears at knowing that they may never get to see THEIR Memorial. Isn't there a way that some of OUR WISCONSIN men and women can go???

EAA, Veteran's organizations, How about it? You guys are all caring and generous people. What say you spread the word?

It brought tears to my eyes just seeing this on the TV today (Fox News Sunday). But I bet it will bring MORE tears to the eyes of our elderly heroes if this could happen!

Thank you, Earl Morse, Retired Air Force Captain, Physician's Assistant!

God bless!

OH... one more thing... and I hope that they don't mind. There is also a guestbook to sign. On that guestbook, this message was left there by Susan Barr, a member of their Board of Directors:

	September 30th 2007 12:10:09 PM
What is your name?	Susan Barr
What is the title of your website:	Honor Flight National Network
Type a quick description of your website:	info to send WWII Vets to DC
Where are you from?	Sunbury OHIO
Please enter your comments?	IF you are thinking about starting an Honor Flight "hub" in your area, please check our website for current sites. In addition to those listed sites, we have many more in the works and can let you know if there is one in your area, by emailing us. Please consider the dates we have listed. We know it is best to go with us as a guardian first to find out first hand how it works and start your training. We are looking at several west coast sites and many areas in between. You need to find the number for your closest VSO, and discuss this with your families before making the commitment. It is very time consuming, but also just as rewarding. Your life and the Veterans will never be the same. I can't even begin to tell you the ripple effect of the good that is shared from these trips. God Bless our Soldiers and Sailors and God Bless America.
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