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Honor Flight
Jul. 10th, 2008 10:12 amAt our Tuesday Rotary meeting (my first as Past President) we had a presentation by Honor Flight Chicago. This is a charitable organization with an unusual mission: Bringing Chicago's Veterans to Washington DC with Honor.
Basically, the National WWII Memorial opened in Washington DC in 2004. Well, the average WWII veteran is in their 80s, and so travel is very difficult. So, a VA doctor in Ohio founded the national Honor Flight organization, which runs FREE one-day trips to the memorial. The Chicago chapter just recently opened up, and has had two flights. They do one a month out of Midway.
It's an expensive proposition, and entirely paid for by donations. The cost per vet is $400 (and they don't let the vet pay for it) which includes bus transportation, box lunches, oxygen on the plane & ground, etc. Nor do they just sit the vet on a plane - volunteer Guardians go with at their own expense.
As they run out of WWII vets (no nicer way to put it) they plan to transition to Korea and Vietnam vets. Here's my call to action.
* if you know a WWII vet (or a terminally ill Korea / Vietnam vet) go the the link above and apply.
* If you can, a donation or being a volunteer would help. The Chicago site takes Paypal and credit cards.
* The national site runs a "Lone Eagle" program for vets who aren't within a 2-hour drive of an existing hub.
It's a worthwhile program. I'm donating.
Basically, the National WWII Memorial opened in Washington DC in 2004. Well, the average WWII veteran is in their 80s, and so travel is very difficult. So, a VA doctor in Ohio founded the national Honor Flight organization, which runs FREE one-day trips to the memorial. The Chicago chapter just recently opened up, and has had two flights. They do one a month out of Midway.
It's an expensive proposition, and entirely paid for by donations. The cost per vet is $400 (and they don't let the vet pay for it) which includes bus transportation, box lunches, oxygen on the plane & ground, etc. Nor do they just sit the vet on a plane - volunteer Guardians go with at their own expense.
As they run out of WWII vets (no nicer way to put it) they plan to transition to Korea and Vietnam vets. Here's my call to action.
* if you know a WWII vet (or a terminally ill Korea / Vietnam vet) go the the link above and apply.
* If you can, a donation or being a volunteer would help. The Chicago site takes Paypal and credit cards.
* The national site runs a "Lone Eagle" program for vets who aren't within a 2-hour drive of an existing hub.
It's a worthwhile program. I'm donating.
