22 Jan The Honor Flight Network
Roswell Rotary Honor Air World War II Veterans at Arlington Memorial on May 14, 2008. Featured is Navy WWII veteran Rosanna Bassett of Roswell, GA
In late 2007, the Roswell Rotary Club voted to undertake a huge new project. We began to raise money to fly World War II Veterans to see the World War II Memorial. Think about it … they are in their 80’s and 90’s … and most would be otherwise unable to make this trip due to physical or financial limitations. To see their Memorial!
There are Honor Flights flying out of many cities all over the country. If you are reading this and know World War II veterans, see if you can make it possible for them to go. Time is of the essence … The Honor Flight Network estimates that over 1000 World War II veterans are dying each day!
On a leap of faith, we chartered an airplane through US Air for a May 8th day trip. This was a fabulous community event. Local law enforcement both in Roswell and in DC provided police escorts. The wonderful Patriot Guard motorcycle riders escorted our three buses down traffic-heavy GA400 right to Hartsfield-Jackson. When we arrived at Regan, our men and women were greeted by a flag-waving, cheering, dancing crowd. We all had to fight back the tears. The veterans said they had never been so grandly appreciated. And some said that it was the first time they had ever talked in depth about their wartime experiences.
Because of so many generous contributions we were able to make two trips to Washington DC in 2008, each time with between 80 and 100 men and women who had served our country in World War II.
I knew that our Dad couldn’t make the trip … Herman doesn’t remember the war, and the day would have been too long for him. But for me it was the Honor Air experience … talking with the veterans, seeing their pictures, and hearing their amazing stories … that fueled my obsession to learn more about what my own parents’ history.
And here I am.
Update in 2015: Roswell Rotary is planning our 8th Honor Air trip. For more details see our webpage. Follow us on Facebook.
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