My friend Laura and I went together to the Tallahassee Airport last spring to be a part of the contingent of Tallahasseeans welcoming home participants in that day’s Honor Flight. (Honor Flight Tallahassee transports North Florida and South Georgia veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit memorials that honor their service and sacrifices.)
We had not been to the “welcome home” festivities before and weren’t sure what to do. Therefore, when there was a call for people to hold flags as the veterans disembarked from their plane and entered the hangar, we volunteered.
As I watched the veterans and their sponsors disembark, I saw a variety of emotions. One, to be honest, was fatigue — the Honor Flight day starts very early and is physically and emotionally packed as the participants fly to Washington, D.C., participate in commemorations honoring them, and fly back. Being WW II vets, they are all elderly to begin with. Other than the fatigue, though, there were smiles, handshakes, hugs, and more than one elder wiping tears away. If it was overwhelming to watch, I can only imagine how overwhelming (in the best of ways) it must have been to be the veterans participating in the day.
The World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., where the Honor Flight Ceremony Takes Place
Support Honor Flight Tallahassee
The Chiles High School Student Government Association is presenting A Night of Stars Benefiting Honor Flight Tallahassee on Monday, March 6, at 6 p.m. Proceeds from ticket purchases will go toward this year’s Honor Flight experience, to take place on May 20, 2017.
Chiles SGA members meeting Honor Flight participants at the December 2016 kickoff for Night of Stars.
A Night of Stars will feature two WW2 liberators, Mr. Bryce Thornton of Tallahassee and Mr. George Aigen of Valdosta. Aigen, who has been featured in a Georgia PBS documentary honoring the state’s veterans, was recently nominated for the French Legion of Honor.
Here are the Details:
Where: Cross Creek Banquet Room at 6701 Mahan Drive in Tallahassee
When: 6 p.m.
Meal: Meal provided by Marie Livingston’s Steak House
Cost: $25
Tickets/Donations: Get tickets or make a donation by visiting the Chiles High School website and scrolling down to Events, by purchasing one from a Chiles SGA member, or by emailing Rebecca Bandy, SGA sponsor.
For More Information: Click here to learn more about Honor Flight Tallahassee.
One Night To Support Those Who Gave So Much
You may feel like there isn’t anything you can do to support veterans BUT as Laura and I learned last year, if you keep your ears open, you’ll be put in touch with a way. Please consider, this year, making one of your “ways” the purchase of a ticket to the Honor Flight All Stars event.
NOTE: Thank you to Rebecca Bandy for sharing information about this event through her blog.
Wife of one, Mom of two, Friend of many. My pronouns are she/her/hers.
It’s great to read about your supporting local veterans. I just recently learned about Honor Flights this summer when someone in Evansville tweeted about a group of vets from here taking a trip to DC. It’s a great program. I hope the Night of Stars turns out to be a roaring success.
Isn’t it just the best project? Of course my dream is to go on one as a companion to a veteran — whether that materializes or not, I’m still a huge supporter of this idea!
Thanks for this and for supporting veterans who helped make our country as amazing as it is.
I am so proud that our local students are making this a priority. 🙂
The honor flight is a great charity to support. I think what they do is wonderful.
I do too! I think this event is going to be a great success. Thx for your comment.