Are you familiar with Honor Flight? Honor Flight gives veterans the experience of being celebrated. Typical Honor Flight programs feature a day-long trip to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials and be honored, all expenses paid.
Unfortunately, all Honor Flight activities have been postponed through at least June 30, 2020, due to the pandemic.
Honor Flight Tallahassee was supposed to be today. Since the actual flight can’t take place, the organization, its alumni and supporters like me are participating in a virtual Honor Flight.
Since I’m using this as my Five Minute Friday response, with the prompt being “another,” I’m going to share a five-minute free write first. After that, I’ll share some more memories of my involvement with Honor Flight so far.
ANOTHER
There will be another Honor Flight Tallahassee that involves an airplane, physical contact as hands are shaken, hugs dispensed and physical aid assisted to disabled vets.
It won’t be the April 18, 2020, Honor Flight though.
I can’t remember when I learned about Honor Flight, but it didn’t take long before I set my sights on being a guardian (one of the volunteers assigned to spend the day with one of the honored veterans and help them have the best experience possible (and stay physically safe)).
I just know it was long enough ago that every year that goes by without reaching this goal creates a little more of a sadness that it may never come to fruition.
What I have to remind myself is that I need to see this, not from the lens of what I am not getting to do, but from the perspective that it is a gift to the Honor Flight program that there are so many willing and capable volunteers who also have the means to pay the $500 fee.
I believe in self-examination and the need to ask ourselves hard questions, and Honor Flight is one of those things that leads me to ask myself some deeper questions.
Am I wanting to do this for the right reasons? It’s easy to think about how great this experience would look on social media, but would I do it even if no picture were ever posted, no status ever updated? (The answer is yes, but I’ve been in the microinfluencer world long enough that almost every opportunity is, to be honest, weighed against its social media potential.)
Can I find a way to be supportive without ever going myself? And the answer to this is yes, too, but that doesn’t mean I won’t grieve the loss of the opportunity to experience it in person.
***end of five minutes***
Honor Flight Memories
I have applied once (last year) and was not accepted as a Guardian, and this year’s application doesn’t matter since the trip was delayed. The likelihood that I’ll get to go in the future is uncertain — obviously the number of WWII vets diminishes every year as they age and pass away. There’s also a $500 fee if you get accepted — some years that’s easier to do than others (but if I ever get accepted, I fully intend to scrape it together!). Meaning — I don’t know if I’ll ever have the opportunity.
For now, though, here are some posts and images over the past few years from my involvement with Honor Flight.
In 2017, my lovely friend Becky put together a banquet to raise money for Honor Flight, along with the Chiles High Student Government Association. I shared information about the event in this blog post.
In this blog post, I wrote about volunteering at Brewfest. One of the beneficiaries of the funds raised was Honor Flight Tallahassee.
In this blog post, I wrote about a story in the Reserve Officers Association newsletter from SmartBrief that discussed an all-women Honor Flight. This one is scheduled for October 7, so here’s hoping it can still happen!
I talk about Honor Flight Tallahassee in this #GarnetGoldAndGood video I created as part of a Toastmasters exercise where I gave an ignite speech. (The Honor Flight part starts at 3:44 if you don’t want to have to see Jameis and the crab legs LOL.)
In 2015, Honor Flight veterans were honored as the VIPs at a July 4 5K here in Tallahassee.
My friend, Laura, and I went together to the “welcome home” portion of Honor Flight Tallahassee in 2016. What a great memory.
How the virtual Honor Flight is working
Here are things you can do if you want to be involved today (although many of these actions can extend beyond today).
Like and follow the Honor Flight Tallahassee Facebook page. On April 18, 2020, the page will share the flight day schedule virtually. Pictures will be posted all day around the time the group would normally arrive at each monument, highlighting special moments from the 2013-2019 flights.
If you have an Honor Flight Tallahassee t-shirt, wear it on April 18 (even though you’ll probably be at home!) Post a selfie in your Honor Flight shirt with an encouraging message for our veterans! (I haven’t gotten to that part yet, but I’ll drop the picture in later).
Share your favorite Honor Flight Tallahassee and veteran memories, pictures or videos throughout the day. Post them on the Honor Flight Tallahassee Facebook page or tag them on your own page. Use the hashtag #HonorFlightTLH so they can capture your posts across all social media channels.
Honor Flight prioritizes veterans from World War II, Korean War and Vietnam wars for flights, but the Virtual Honor Flight is for everyone! Share a picture or tribute to your favorite veteran(s) no matter when or where they served (or are currently serving) our country. Be sure to use #HonorFlightTLH for these posts, too!
Reach out today. Many veterans do not use Facebook. In this time of social distancing, it is more important than ever to stay connected. If you know a veteran, give them a call! Ask them to share memories and stories from their extraordinary lives and service. Or read them a few posts and comments from the Virtual Honor Flight to remind them how much we care.
Thank a veteran. Write a note of gratitude or ask your young family members to draw a picture. Tallahassee Honor Flight will make sure your notes are given to a veteran who goes on the next flight. Drop your notes in the mail to: Honor Flight Tallahassee, PO Box 12033, Tallahassee, FL 32317
Know any WWII, Korean War and Vietnam War veterans who haven’t been on a flight? Talk to them about Honor Flight and encourage them to apply for the next flight. Applications are available here.
Tallahassee Honor Flight is watching the public health situation closely and still hopes to host a flight in 2020. They rely on the generosity of our community to raise money, so please consider a donation (this is a link to my friend Becky’s fundraiser) or even hosting a Facebook Fundraiser if you feel so inclined.
(Note, I’ve adapted the suggestions here from information on the Honor Flight Tallahassee Facebook page.)
In closing
I’d be lying if I said I have made peace with the idea that I won’t have another chance at going on an Honor Flight as a guardian. For today, though, I’ll settle for hoping I can encourage another person to get interested themselves in this deserving cause.
Wife of one, Mom of two, Friend of many. My pronouns are she/her/hers.
Jane Anderson says
I had not heard of the Honor Flight until your post.. What a beautiful thing to do. My sister in law, every year l, makes a quilt honoring a WW2 vet. I’m not sure of the organization but she makes the quilt top and bottom and back then passes it on to the quilter. This year even that ceremony (wherever it is) was cancelled. They always do it on Memorial Day. 2020 is like the year that never was.
Paula Kiger says
Hi Jane. So great to hear from you! I agree — it does feel like the year that never was. I imagine we’ll get some rare lessons from it. It’s very cool that your sister makes that quilt every year.
Tara says
This is cool. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of the Honor Flight before today either. There is so much disappointment and loss/grief as this pandemic continues on. Blessed to be your neighbor at FMF this week.
Paula Kiger says
I’m glad I wrote it, as it’s become such a constant in my head I thought everyone knew about it. Take care of yourself, Tara.
E. Adams Wright says
I did not know about the Honor Flight until I read your post. Thanks for sharing. Grace to you. Visiting from FMF.
Paula Kiger says
It’s truly a special thing. I’m happy to share their message. Take good care of yourself.
Pennie Nichols says
Thanks for sharing this. And for doing what you do. I learned something new today.
Paula Kiger says
I’m glad, Pennie. It’s a very worthy project. I hope they can resume after the quarantines end and continue honoring the veterans.
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser says
Thank you for doing this, Paula.
The refuel track lies west of here,
across red-hazed plains,
when it’s bright and when it’s clear,
I can hear the planes.
Fat Albert with his steady drone,
two baskets are in trail,
and just below the propwash zone,
just aft of his tail,
are my beloved Blackhawks,
boom extended, steady;
Can my past now be unlocked?
Will they turn and come for me?
I hear them singing down the sky,
my heavy metal lullaby.
Paula Kiger (Big Green Pen) says
Poignant, Andrew. Thank you.
Stephanie says
I know a couple men who went on the flight. It’s such an amazing experience to celebrate their lives as well as help them process their experiences. And the guardians are blessed to hear their stories. How great that there is one for women! I would love to hear their experiences.
Paula Kiger (Big Green Pen) says
Yes! I love talking to people who’ve gone and I *really* love the all-women one.