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In the News

News stories about Honor Flight Network from across the country.

An Amazing Thing
by
Margy Pezdirtz


I was sitting at Gate 3 of the Southwest Airlines terminal in Baltimore, Maryland, awaiting my return flight to Oklahoma City when my quietude of reading was disturbed by loud, prolonged clapping. Although I continued to read, I wondered what the noise was about and looked over my shoulder toward the disrupting sounds. Glancing between the celebrants, all I could see was a slowly moving line of red ball caps gliding along at a lower level than the standing crowd. ‘It must be a returning little league team,’ I thought. I wondered how so many parents could have gotten into the terminal through security without boarding passes. I returned to my reading.

The applause continued.

Intrigued now by the jubilation, I stood to see what was causing such celebration. It didn’t take but a moment to see the ‘kids’ were actually veterans being pushed in wheel chairs through the increasing crowd. Some walked slowly, somewhat stooped. Some stood tall and shook hands as they made their way through the welcoming gathering.

The applause continued.

Old soldiers of freedom continued to deplane and be wheeled amidst cheering flag wavers. More onlookers gathered and joined in the revelry. Succumbing to curiosity, I collected my purse and carry on bag and went to Gate B2 to stand in honor of these aging warriors who had fought for my freedom to sit in this gate and read a book, to catch a plane to wherever I wanted to go and to write this story.

I joined the clapping crowd and smiled through tears as the soldiers continued to come off the plane, each accompanied by an escort wearing a red shirt with an emblem that simply stated “Honor Flight - Dallas.� I was beginning to understand the reality of what was happening and my thoughts went to my aging uncle, an ex-husband now deceased, both WW II veterans. I thought of the neighbor boy who went off to fight in the Korean War when I was too small to understand the word war, and of a brother-in-law who actually went to Vietnam instead of misspeaking about going. I thought of my two step sons who were in Desert Storm and the never ending list of so many young men who went off to war because they thought it was the right thing to do, just as these warriors had done.

Here, in the midst of an airport on the outskirts of Washington, D.C., where our current government is quickly casting our freedom into the Potomac, I saw real heroes receiving the honor they had long deserved. These soldiers are old now, tired, and maybe even bewildered by the applauding crowd, but they were quietly smiling. They wore simple blazers and wind breakers but their service ribbons, proudly displayed on their chests, spoke volumes of their bravery. One defender of our country wore a white shirt with a lone Purple Heart Medal displayed on the pocket, as a silent witness to the price he paid for his country. It was enough. He didn’t need the ribbons, the one simple medal told of his gift to me, to my children, and my grandchildren. He stood for honor and integrity then and now. On this day in May, over sixty years later, he was being honored and thanked for this service to us - to our country.

These brave men – and women – yes, there were a few – will be ushered around Washington, D.C., to the granite memorials that speak to the struggles they personally experienced. These warriors will be treated with honor and dignity and then put back on a plane to return to their own homes and beds. Perhaps tonight their nightmares of war, buddies wounded and lost, of death and dying will be replaced by dreams of a grateful America. Perhaps.

I saw an amazing sight today. I experienced and participated in the long overdue thanks to our real heroes. At a time when our government has run amuck and our President apologizes for our country’s heroism, I tearfully joined a thankful crowd of Americans who have not forgotten. To our Veterans, I say Thank You and May God Bless you. May God Bless America and by His grace, keep us free.

 

 

Honorary Congressional Advisory Board Announced

The Honor Flight Network is pleased to announce the Bi-Partisan Honorary Congressional Advisory Board. Go to the "About" icon on our website and click on "Honorary Boards" to get a list of participants. Others will be added upon their acceptance. If other members of the House or Senate would like to join us, please contact Diane Gresse at offmgr@honorflight.org. We need your support!

Southwest Airlines - The Official Commercial Airline of the Honor Flight Network

DALLAS - May 22, 2009 - The Honor Flight Network proudly announces Southwest Airlines as its Official Commercial Airline. Honor Flight serves the nation’s Veterans by taking them to Washington D.C. to visit the World War II Memorial, free of charge. Partnering with Southwest Airlines will allow Honor Flight to accomplish its goals more expeditiously because of the airline’s generous, multi-year commitment of complimentary tickets.

“Southwest Airlines Employees are passionate about the Honor Flight mission,” said Linda Rutherford, Vice President of Communications and Strategic Outreach. “Honor Flight is a perfect partnership for our company. We strive to make the Veterans’ trip memorable from the moment they step on our airplane.”

Honor Flight’s priority is for the Veterans of any conflict with a terminal illness who would like to visit their individual memorial and our most senior Veterans, the survivors of WWII.

Southwest Airlines has a long history of supporting the men and women who fight for the nation’s Freedoms. The airline is proud to have more than 700 Employees serve in the National Guard and Reserves. In fact, Southwest Airlines was recognized by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) for its commitment and support of the airline’s National Guard and Reserve Employees. In 2007, Southwest Airlines was named one of the Top 50 Military Friendly Employers. Based in Dallas, Southwest Airlines currently serves 65 cities in 33 states and is the largest carrier in the world, as measured by passengers carried.

Clint Eastwood and Trace Adkins Public Service Announcements

The Military Channel, FOX, and CNN are now playing the Clint Eastwood and Trace Adkins Public Service Announcements. Clint Eastwood’s PSA is playing at the Grand Ole’ Opry. If you see one of these airings, please send an I-report to pr@honorflight.org and let us know when and what station you saw it. A special thanks goes out to Bruce Feinstein, Humana, for all his hard work on getting these PSA’s out and thanks to those hub director who also pitched these to their local affiliates and are currently airing them.

RVC Program

The Honor Flight Recreational Vehicle Convoy or RVC program was born out of the generous donation of a 28’ motor home from Mae Davis of Madison, Indiana in July 2008. It was determined that it would be the perfect “Flag Ship” for an RVC program, which made its inaugural trip to Washington, D.C. September 19, 2008 carrying 18 veterans and 10 Road Crew Hosts. All fuel and toll fees are covered entirely by the RV Hosts, who also stay in their RVs during the two night stay. This is how these very generous folks are saying “thank you” to these very deserving, senior veterans. The program offers those veterans who do not wish to fly, a way of visiting their long awaited memorial. Interested veterans and RV owners are encouraged to contact program organizer Dian Holland at 937-521-2400.

President George W. Bush stands with Jeff Miller and Earl Morse after presenting them with the 2008 Presidential Citizens Medal Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008, in the Oval Office of the White House. White House photo by Chris GreenbergHonor Flight Co-founders Receive Presidential Citizens Award

December 10, 2008

President George W. Bush presented twenty-three individuals with the Presidential Citizens Medal. Our co-founders were among these honored individuals. We are proud of the work Earl Morse and Jeff Miller have done at Honor Flight and look forward to working with them as our mission continues.

The Presidential Citizens Medal was established in November 13, 1969, to recognize U.S. citizens who have performed exemplary deeds of service for the nation. It is one of the highest honors the President can confer upon a civilian, second only to the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Read more at the White House website >>

Read more at the Dayton Daily News website >>

Read more at the Asheville Citizen Times website >>

Earl and Jeff respond to being given the Presidential Citizens Medal

Last Wednesday, 10 December, Jeff Miller and I received the second highest honor that can be bestowed upon a civilian, the Presidential Citizens Medal. Now we both know what the WWII Veterans feel like when they tour their Memorial. Their thoughts are filled with all their friends that served beside them, sacrificed so much for a common goal, and committed to something greater than themselves. The WWII Veterans accept the acknowledgement and gratitude of the American public on behalf of all their buddies that couldn't be there. We both felt the very same way. Each and every one of you is the reason why the Honor Flight Network is so successful and so honored by the President, on behalf of the United States. Every one of you that formed a hub, that pushed a wheelchair, that worked long hours, or delivered your WWII Veteran safely home to their family, is the reason why our national network is so successful. Our hearts go out to Dave Cameron's family. Dave passed away this year, pursuing his passion as the leader of Honor Flight Michigan. There are countless others across America that has sacrificed so much for our veterans and this effort. The two of us physically received the award; however, you all were in our thoughts and in our hearts while we stood there and received the acknowledgement and gratitude of a grateful nation.