Honor Flight works to convince reluctant veterans to take the trips of a lifetime

WSAW
By Madison Maronde

One-third of veterans need to be convinced to go on the Never Forgotten Honor Flight, according to co-founder Jim Campbell.

Campbell said because of this, he has a list of the five most common reasons veterans decline the trip: “I don’t deserve it,” “I’ve been to D.C. before,” “I have a medical condition,” “I’m angry,” or “I don’t want to relive my experiences.”

Campbell said veterans can still go despite these concerns. But he doesn’t want to undermine those reasons, which is why he makes sure not to call them excuses. In a pamphlet he has, he also offers rebuttals for each point.

Campbell said everyone who goes on the flight is glad they went. “It not only changes the veteran’s life profoundly, it affects the family, especially the spouse, the circle of friends, entire communities,” Campbell said.

Campbell has thousands of stories of the healing he’s seen from these flights.

A sixth reason that isn’t on the list but that Campbell said is a genuine concern is many veterans worry there won’t be enough bathrooms. He wants to remind people that at every point on the trip, they aren’t far from a bathroom.

Campbell also said that ‘Never Forgotten’ flights are like no other.