David Hale Hand, Korea
Korea veterans, our turn is here to take the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. I won’t take a lot of time telling you about the organization as you can read about it at www.honorflight.org. I will say that the veterans who are selected do not pay anything to go. The organization raises all the money, sponsorship, and volunteers, and they make the veterans feel like kings!
The Arizona chapter has been in existence since 2008 and has sent more than 2,500 veterans to Washington. Our group consisted of four veterans from World War II, 26 veterans of Korea, and two veterans from the Vietnam War, as well as two board of directors members who were our leaders, 14 “Guardians” who serviced our every wish, and two paramedics. Staff did all the work to ensure that our baggage was checked and unchecked, as well as the big job of moving the 16 or more wheelchairs in and out of the storage compartments on the bus. I think they must have done that at least 20 times during the day. Our trip leader was one of the board of directors and the trip went like clockwork.
Our bus driver was a very articulate, knowledgeable tour guide. He showed us almost every building of importance in the mall area.
In addition to the sites, there were surprises! We were a group of 50 in bright colored shirts, with a third in wheelchairs, traveling together. When we arrived at the Phoenix airport, we were greeted by the staff of the Honor Flight and a group of Daughters of the American Revolution members who gave us handouts and a beautiful DC photo book. All along the way, people stopped and wondered who we were. Once they figured it out, they applauded, and many came up to shake our hands and thank us for our service. Most dynamic was traveling through the airports, both going and coming home. We were announced over the airport loudspeakers. Crowds waiting for their planes came to the aisles and applauded and cheered.
When we landed in Baltimore, we were given a “water salute” by the airport fire brigade while we were in our plane. In the airport, we were met by a 6- foot, 4-inch “town crier” with a big voice, in a 1700s dialect, who led us from our plane to the bus and announced who we were.
Landing back home in Sky Harbor, we were met with a military honor guard who led us to where we were to pick up our luggage. All of this more than caused a mist in our eyes and a lump in our throats.
And then, there are a few surprises that I will not tell you about. You will have to see for yourself.
In November, our group will meet again in Phoenix and have a reunion and think through our great trip once again. It was a trip of a lifetime that we will never forget. Almost every state has an organization. To our older friends, if you served in the military during times of conflict, you really should check it out.