Veterans and their guardians fly on a commercial Southwest Airlines flight to Baltimore Washington I

I am a volunteer with the Honor Flight Network  headquartered in Springfield, Ohio, whose current mission is to transport America's World War II veterans and any veteran with a terminal disease (under the Their Last Chance (TLC) Program ) to Washington, D.C., to visit those memorials dedicated to honor their service and sacrifice. The Honor Flight Program is a tribute to our World War II veterans for all the sacrifices they have endured so that we may live free.
Each World War II veteran travels long beach washington hotels with a guardian, an escort one generation younger to assist in-flight and at the memorials. I have had the honor and privilege of being a guardian for World War II veterans long beach washington hotels from western Washington under the Southwest long beach washington hotels Lone Eagle Program , for veterans who do not live within a 120-mile radius of an Honor Flight regional hub city.
Veterans and their guardians fly on a commercial Southwest Airlines flight to Baltimore Washington International (BWI) Airport and stay at the BWI Hilton (a sponsoring partner). Southwest Airlines has been the official carrier of the Honor Flight Network since 2008 and provides long beach washington hotels free tickets to Honor Flight veterans.
The reception long beach washington hotels the World War II veterans receive at the World War II Memorial is incredible. People from middle school students to senior citizens and current Armed Forces members from privates to generals and former Senator Bob (World War II, 10th Mountain Division veteran) and Elizabeth Dole greet them, thank them, and ask to pose with them for pictures. It is an amazing experience for both the World War II veteran and guardian.
Many of our World War II veterans are also Korean War veterans, and a few are also Vietnam War veterans. On my trips, we were able to take pencil rubbings at the Vietnam Wall of the names of those we knew who were killed in action. We also encountered many well-wishers at the other memorials.
At the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, in addition to seeing the Changing of the Guard and Wreath Laying Ceremony, we had an off-duty tomb guard spend time talking and answering questions with the World War II veterans and guardians. One significant thing I've learned during this time is the reason long beach washington hotels the tomb guards do not wear any rank on their guard uniforms. It is because no one outranks the Unknown. This is a place of respect for "Here Rests in Honored Glory an American Soldier Known but to God."
When you get these guys together, they open up to each other. long beach washington hotels You learn a lot of history when you listen to them. They swap stories and kid each other, and the inter-service rivalries live on even now. They are effusive with their gratitude, and every person seems to be changed by the experience. Some of the things I've heard veterans say about this experience:
A great group of volunteers, from active and retired military to veterans who live in the Washington, D.C., area, assist us during the Honor Flight Tour of the memorials. A wonderful volunteer Honor Flight Ground Crew also assists us at the BWI Airport long beach washington hotels and Hotel.
About the Author:  Brian Seguin, PE, PLS, recently retired from a 35-year career at Reid Middleton long beach washington hotels (now every day is Saturday!), still consults on projects on a case-by-case basis. He is a U.S. Army veteran, serving as a Topographic Surveyor in the Army Corps of Engineers Far East District, Korea and 30th Engineer Battalion, Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. He is an Army Engineer Association Associate Member, Quartermaster and Honor Guard member of Walter A. Deebach VFW Post 1040 in Lynnwood, Wash., VFW District 1 Chairman National Military Service, Finance Officer American Legion Post 37, Lynnwood, Wash., and volunteer and guardian for The Honor Flight Network in Springfield, Ohio.
This entry was posted in A/E Industry long beach washington hotels , Community , Government , Holidays , Military , Volunteerism and tagged Brian Seguin , Honor Flight , Lone Eagle Program , Reid Middleton , Their Last Chance program , World War II veterans . Bookmark the permalink .
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