As a proud American and son of a World War II veteran, I am incredibly honored and indebted to all of the sacrifices that our soldiers have made for this great country. In honor of my father and all of this country’s brave veterans, I proudly volunteer for the Honor Flight Network. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the program, I would like to shed some light on it, as I believe in its importance and message.
The Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization that helps to give our WWII veterans both the honor and closure that they deserve. The program takes WWII veterans from all around the country and provides transportation to Washington, D.C. There, the veterans are given the opportunity to enjoy each other’s company, as well as mourn their fallen comrades, and reflect on their time in the armed services at their memorials. It is always an incredibly somber moment witnessing our soldiers thinking back on everything that they and their friends sacrificed.
The veterans are met with an incredibly welcoming and lavish greeting. Fire trucks spray their hoses, military officers and soldiers salute their elders, and a celebration begins.
According to the official website for the Honor Flight Network, approximately 640 WWII veterans die every day. And I want to express my gratitude and honor my father as often as I can. This is why I am a participant in the Honor Flight Network as a Guardian. Guardians can accompany one WWII veteran during their stay in Washington, D.C.
The Honor Flight Network was originally created by retired Air Force Captain Earl Morse after he had spent almost 30 years taking care of veterans. He wanted to find a way to honor these veterans. After the WWII Memorial was finished and dedicated in 2004, Morse had found out that several of his patients were unable to visit the WWII Memorial, and so he helped found the Honor Flight in 2005 and flew 12 veterans out to D.C. The program grew over the years and flew in over 18,000 veterans just last year.
This is a very important program for all of us to take note of and participate in. If you are interested in donating or becoming a Guardian, please feel free to visit the Honor Flight Network’s website here.