Honor Flight pays back to those who served

Photo By Master Sgt. Brian Hamilton | Friends, family and current and former service members greet Veterans participating in an Honor Flight from Greenville, S.C. to Washington during a homecoming celebration at the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport. Eighty-seven Veterans from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam conflict took part in Honor Flight. This was the 13th Honor Flight sponsored by Honor Flight Upstate South Carolina since their first mission in 2008 and with few exceptions, schedules and organizes two “Honor Flights” every year.  

GREENVILLE, SC, UNITED STATES

10.28.2014

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Brian Hamilton 

108th Training Command- Initial Entry Training

GREENVILLE, S.C. - “A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces, but also by the men it honors, the men it remembers,” said our 35th President, John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

That’s the reasoning behind the “Honor Flight,” a semiannual undertaking where the citizens of one grateful community gives its heroes the opportunity to visit our nation’s capital and experience the monuments and memorials that were crafted in their honor firsthand.

Since 2008, Honor Flight Upstate South Carolina (HFUSC), a nonprofit organization located in Greenville, S.C., has provided two flights per year to Washington D.C. to Veterans who served during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam conflict, with few exceptions.

On Oct. 28, HFUSC embarked on its 13th mission filled with 87 Veterans from some of our nation’s most tumultuous times on a one-day round-trip flight to try and pay back these brave men and women for their service to our country. Betty Stewart, who founded the organization along with her husband in 2007, has no plans of stopping there.

“We originally saw this on television in North Carolina. We saw a news crew following the Veterans around at the capital and thought why don’t we do this for the Veterans of Simpsonville [South Carolina]. We started this in 2007. We took our first flight in 2008. And today we went on our 13th flight. We’ve grown to encompass the entire upstate [South Carolina] area,” said Stewart.

To receive an Honor Flight, Veterans need only apply, either by mail or online. They are then selected on a first come first serve basis starting with World War II or those who are terminally ill. The Veterans are then paired with an individual guardian who accompanies and ensures their safety and well-being throughout the entire trip.

Each Honor Flight costs an estimated $60,000 to accomplish and in addition to the veterans and their guardians, carries a team of doctors and nurses. This particular flight included a charter flight with 187 passengers, and four 55-passenger motor coaches to transport the veterans around the national mall.

Stewart said, “All of our Honor flights are completely paid for by sponsors and through donations. In the past, we even had a school raise over $2,200 that they donated. The whole community has really done such a great job of supporting this and giving back to these Veterans.”

The veterans are greeted at the airport by hundreds of their family members, friends, and service members, both past and present when they return from Washington D.C. later in the evening, As each Veteran makes their way out of the elevator and into the terminal, they are welcomed back with cheers, thunderous applause and even a high school band. Each one passes through the crowd, shaking hands and exchanging hugs with their biggest fans until they finally meet their rides and are whisked away to their homes.

“It was wonderful. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” said Elender Cerasoli, Navy Petty Officer First Class during World War II. “I was stationed three blocks down from the White House on the Potomac River during World War II. I haven’t been back there in 65 years. You used to be able to buy a hot dog, a pepsi-cola and even a ticket to the movie for 25 cents. Today I think it cost me $25.00 and there was no movie!”

To add to the nostalgia of the event, volunteers dressed in costume from that era to meet the Honor Flight Veterans on both ends of the trip.

One volunteer at the welcome home event, Sgt. 1st Class Stacie George, E company, 1/518th BCT Battalion, 98th Training Division (IET), uses her hobby as a “pin-up model” to provide a piece of Americana to the participants on the flight.

“I’ve been doing pin-up for just over a year now, and this was my first Honor Flight. I think this is something that most of the older Veterans can relate to because it’s a throwback to their generation. At every event I’ve been to, it’s always seemed to put a smile on their faces; both male and female.”

“It’s important for me to support these types of events because of the way service members are received when they come home from deployments today. The Veterans from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam paved the way for how we, as Veterans, are treated and cared for. We really owe a huge debt of gratitude to those that came before us,” added George.

When the hoopla of the day had ended and all of the Veterans were safely connected with their rides home, Stewart, just as she does with every flight, breathed a sigh of relief and shed a few tears.

Stewart said, “I receive a lot of phone calls the day after one of these from the Veterans telling me this was the best day of their life. One man called me and said ‘you know Ms. Betty, I thought my life was just about over, but now I get calls to speak at schools and I found out I can still do things.’ It really makes it all worthwhile. My family has always been patriotic and has a real love for our Veterans and what they did for our country. This is a really good way to pay them back.”

• Date Taken: 10.28.2014
• Date Posted: 10.30.2014 11:32
• Story ID: 146560
• Location: GREENVILLE, SC, US