![]() In August of 2005, an ever-expanding waiting list of veterans led the transition to commercial airline carriers with the goal of accommodating as many veterans as possible. Six small planes flew out of Springfield, Ohio taking twelve World War II veterans on a visit to the memorial in Washington, DC. The inaugural Honor Flight Tour took place in May of 2005. After Earl spoke, eleven pilots who had never met his patients stepped up to volunteer and Honor Flight was born. The second was that the pilots personally escort the veterans around D.C. The first was that the veterans pay nothing the entire aircraft rental ($600 to $1200 for the day) would have to be paid solely by the pilots. There were two major stipulations to his request. In January of 2005, Earl addressed about 150 members of the aero club during a safety meeting, outlining a volunteer program to fly veterans to their memorial. It didn’t take long for Earl to realize that there were many veterans who would have the same reaction. He too cried and enthusiastically accepted the trip. Earl posed the same question to a second World War II veteran a week later. In December of 2004, Earl asked one of his World War II veteran patients if it would be okay if he personally flew him out to D.C., free of charge, to visit his memorial. The veteran broke down and cried. ![]() In addition to being a physician assistant, Earl was also a private pilot and a member of one of America’s largest aero clubs located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. Families and friends also lacked the resources and time to complete the three-day to four-day trip to the nation’s capital. Most of these senior veterans were in their 80s and lacked the physical and mental wherewithal to complete a trip on their own. By now, reality had settled in it was clear to most veterans that it simply wasn’t financially or physically possible for them to make the journey. Most felt that eventually, somehow, they would make it to D.C., perhaps with a family member or friend.Īs summer turned to fall and then winter, these same veterans returned to the clinic for their follow-up visits. ![]() and quickly became the topic of discussion among his World War II veteran patients. Earl repeatedly asked these veterans if they would ever travel to visit their memorial. In May of 2004, the World War II Memorial was finally completed and dedicated in Washington, D.C. After retiring from the Air Force in 1998, Earl was hired by the Department of Veterans Affairs to work in a small clinic in Springfield, Ohio. Earl wanted to honor the veterans he had taken care of for the past 27 years. So how did this special organization get its start? The Honor Flight Network program was conceived by Earl Morse, a physician assistant and Retired Air Force Captain. We are just about honoring our heroes, plain and simple,” Permian Basin Chairman John West said. “This project is about patriotism, community and is a non-political project. On average, the estimated per person cost for the trip can range from $1,500 to $2,000 and anywhere from 50 to 120 veterans attend each trip (guardians welcome). Most chapters have expanded to include veterans of other wars -all equally deserving- and even match veterans with a guardian who has also served in the military.Īll expenses are paid for by businesses, civic clubs and individual donors. Another unique touch is “mail call,” which is carried out in flight when every veteran receives letters of gratitude from all ages of people in their community. As a special tribute, most chapters even employ a bagpiper to assist with the sendoff party. The trip covers everything, including a sendoff party, tours and wreaths for veterans to lay in honor of the fallen. While each chapter varies, most Texas groups provide trips twice yearly, in the spring and fall. The Texas Honor Flight has chapters in: Amarillo, Austin, Lubbock and Midland, among others. This nonprofit 501(c)3 organization pays tribute to American heroes of past decades by providing WWII veterans the opportunity to travel to our nation’s capital to view special landmarks like the WWII Memorial… absolutely free of charge to them. to see their memorial.įortunately, one organization, the Honor Flight, makes this visit possible for veterans in our community. Sadly, many of our WWII veterans will never have a chance to visit Washington D.C. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, an estimated 640 WWII veterans die each day.
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