I've been selected as a WW II escort for the Honor Flight‏

Options
evilelf
evilelf Member Posts: 1,066
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer

For those of you who do not know what the Honor Flight is,
it's for the the World War II Vets to take a flight from Huntsville AL to Washington DC
to see the memorial made after them.
We will be escorting 125 vets
There will be 33 (of us) escorts riding on the plane with them
There will be 92 escorts waiting at Regan Airport
There will be 12-15 attending paramedics, Dr's and nurses
 
There will be 5 buses with 2-3 medical personnel at all times
 
The youngest WWII vet would be 81
(that's if he was of legal age when enlisting)
 
We will leave Huntsville AL around 0630-0700 am
 
We will be going to the following areas by busses
 
- WW II Memorial
- Korean Memorial
- Vietnam Wall
- USMC Memorial
- Women in Military Memorial close to Arlington (lunch)
- Arlington Cemetery
- Then a tour of DC
 
After that, we'll get back on the plane and head back to Huntsville
 
We should get back home between 2045- 2100 hrs or
845-900 pm (same day)
 
They said last year there were over 2000 people at our little airport welcoming these guys back late into the night
 
A really long day for everyone
(especially the ones who are pushing wheel chairs)
(hopefully that will be almost everyone)
rather push someone than have them get really tired and fall
 
We were told that we are to be with them at all times,
hand in hand or attached to the hip
 
The instructors said that the vets love being escorted by women and are a little upset when he finds out he's got a male escort
 
The only time we're not together is when one of us has to go to the bathroom (we were told we could NOT escort them into the bathroom unless they were of the same sex)
 
I have another training session next month and will find out who my vet is
 
I've also volunteered to be the Bus captain (Head/Bean Counter)
 
Can I say I'm excited

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Makratz
    Makratz Member Posts: 12,678
    edited April 2009

    Sounds like a great experience for both you and the Vets.  Congrats!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dreamwriter
    dreamwriter Member Posts: 3,255
    edited April 2009

    Way to Go!  I bet every American would love to be in your shiny black shoes.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • spar2
    spar2 Member Posts: 6,827
    edited April 2009

    Evilelf, i have wondered whatever happened to you, have missed you much.  You were so funny on the story thread.  You must to be proud.  I am proud of you.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2009

    What a great honor!  I've missed you too, Evilelf.  Nice to see you checking in from time to time.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SoCalLisa
    SoCalLisa Member Posts: 13,961
    edited April 2009

    That is a wonderful program..good for you

    Please give the Vets a hug for me

    When you get to the Women's Memorial give it a salute for me... I was one

    of the Charter Members...but I was a Vietnam Era Vet..

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • celia088
    celia088 Member Posts: 2,570
    edited April 2009

    Wow Evilelf, that sounds like quite an honor to be an escort on this Honor Flight!!  Congratulations!!

    My husband, who is a Persian Gulf War Veteran (now retired from 20 years active duty in the US Navy), salutes Evilelf, and SocalLisa and Socal's husband!!!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • smithlme
    smithlme Member Posts: 1,322
    edited April 2009

    My 83 year old dad is a Navy WWII vet. His mom signed his papers when he was 17 so he could go. He seldom speaks to any of us about those days but he shares a lot of it with my son who has been to Iraq twice.

    What an honor to share this experience with these wonderful men and women. Give them all a huge hug and Thank You, from me..

    Linda

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lovinmomma
    lovinmomma Member Posts: 1,879
    edited April 2009

    That is so amazing!  WOW!!!!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • navygirl
    navygirl Member Posts: 886
    edited April 2009

    What an incredible honor. I had no idea there was this program. Give your vet a hug for me!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • acarr
    acarr Member Posts: 104
    edited April 2009

    evilelf -- my dad is a WWII Vet and was scheduled to go on the honor flight to Washington DC last year, but wasn't able to go due to his failing health.  I so wish he had been able to make that trip.  My dad's brother, who is in his 90's, fought at Normandy and was able to go.  It was a very emotional experience for him.  I know this will be a very exciting and memorable trip for you.  God bless you for volunteering to take care of our Vets.      

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • JustOne
    JustOne Member Posts: 226
    edited April 2009

    What a wonderful thing you're doing for our vets, evilelf. Thank you.

    Two years ago on Father's Day weekend, my wonderful 86y/o father-in-law had his son(my hubby) sons-in-law; grandsons and a great grandson, take him to see the memorial. What a special 'guy' time they had. They still talk about it and how Dad had them all crying when he stood from his wheelchair the moment he saw the memorial.

    Have a great time with those incredible men.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Sierra
    Sierra Member Posts: 1,638
    edited April 2009

    Way to go Evil!!

    Best to you

    Sierra :))

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dreamwriter
    dreamwriter Member Posts: 3,255
    edited April 2009

    bumping this up

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • iodine
    iodine Member Posts: 4,289
    edited April 2009

    How wonderful!  Our state has sent several Honor Flights over the past couple of years and it's so amazing to see the support for these men and women.

    You are appreciated and I hope you enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • junie
    junie Member Posts: 1,216
    edited April 2009

    How totally wonderful!!!   These vets might get a bit teary-eyed at some of the stops--be sure you have extra kleenex for them--and for you!   The Viet-Nam Memorial Wall is overwhelming to me as have been there, looked up a few names, and stood in front of them and had memories drown me in tears.

    What an honor for you!!  Please give your assigned vet a gentle hug from me--god bless them!!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • rferraris
    rferraris Member Posts: 191
    edited April 2009

    When will this happen?  I hope it gets media attention!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2009

    A VERY wonderful thing to take part in....how do you get on this to help with something like this???

    My dad was a Korean vet, but never got to see the memorial...

    In 2005 my youngest brother and I took our mom to Washington DC and we spent many hours at the memorials remembering our family members....an extremely moving event.

    I agree with whomever said to take LOTS of tissues!!!!.

    Have a wonderful trip and hug your vet for me...

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TXBadboob
    TXBadboob Member Posts: 597
    edited April 2009

    Wow, what an honor!  Congratulations!  I hope you get to be Bus Captain.

    Deen

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BFidelis
    BFidelis Member Posts: 156
    edited April 2009

    Contgratulations,

    My 81 yo Dad had Grandma sign his papers at 17 as well.  Army Air Force.  Began pilot training, but war was ending, so he became a mechanic.  A couple of years ago my brother and he did the DC tour, including the 'restoration facility' in Maryland for the Smithsonian Air & Space museum.  At one point, the guide got corrected on some of the details.  Wink  How awesome (in the litera sense) to be able to play such an important role in honoring our veteran heroes.

    Peace,

    Beth

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Catherine
    Catherine Member Posts: 305
    edited April 2009

    That is wonderful!  Congratulations.

    Catherine

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nancypat
    nancypat Member Posts: 511
    edited April 2009

    Thank you on behalf of my father who was a WWll, Korea and Vietnam Vet.  May God bless you and those brave souls you will be escorting!

    Nancy

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2009

    so proud of you vera!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • evilelf
    evilelf Member Posts: 1,066
    edited April 2009

    Thanks ladies,

    My honoree is 88 years young, he mows his grass every week, is totally mobile,

    so it looks like I'll be keeping up with him

    He's never been to the DC area and I think he's as excited as I  am to go

    What's amazing, is that's there are 4 brothers from one family and 3 brothers from another that are all going on this trip together AWESOME

    I'll also be escorting 3 other WW II vets to DC but will turn them over to their escort waiting for thim at Regan Airport

    Yes there's going to be TV coverage both here and in DC,

    Since I'm in the Air Force Reserves, my PR person at Maxwell AFB told me to have someone take lots of pictures of us together and to take quotes of my vet and it will be ran in our 908th Reserve magazine

    How cool is that?

    Can you tell I'm excited

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2009

    Wow - evil what a great opportunity! You go girl! Very cool! Can't wait to "hear" about it. ENJOY!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2009

    Haven't heard from you... hope all is well.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NaughtybyNature
    NaughtybyNature Member Posts: 1,448
    edited May 2009

    Evil(freaking)Elf... where the heck have you been????????????  How are you????????????

    CONGRATS ON THE HONOR FLIGHT... we are still all so proud of you.

    Miss U a whole bunch.

    Love,

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dreamwriter
    dreamwriter Member Posts: 3,255
    edited May 2009

    Will you copy us in on what the magazine article says about YOU?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SoCalLisa
    SoCalLisa Member Posts: 13,961
    edited May 2009

    So has this happened yet??

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories