Help an Honor Flight

[hawkward]

If anyone else feels like they need something to *do* today, there is an Honor Flight looking for some extra help that would only take five minutes out of your day. Here's the info:


"We have recently added a surprise flight for our veterans on Sunday, November 11 (Veteran's Day). At this time, we do not have any letters for our vets to open during "Mail Call" and are desperately in need of them (we need at least 160). If you could find it in your heart to pop a card or a quick note in the mail, it would be GREATLY appreciated. We are doing our best to serve Vietnam veterans at this time since they did not receive their deserved "Welcome Home" the first time around. If you have any questions, please let me know! THANK YOU!

The address is:

Honor Flight Columbus
Attn: Mail Call
PO BOX 12036
Columbus, OH 43212"

These Honor Flights mean SO MUCH to the veterans who take them, especially to Vietnam era service members who didn't get the recognition of other generations.

[ftwr]

I live in Columbus and I had no idea this was a thing. Thanks hawkward!

[hawkward]

Sept 11, 2018 9:56:10 GMT -6 ftwr said:

I live in Columbus and I had no idea this was a thing. Thanks hawkward !

You're welcome! I love these honor flights. The Vietnam ones are especially dear to me because my father is a vet. 

[frantastic]

hawkward, I'm in Columbus too. Mind if I share the info on FB?

[hawkward]

Sept 11, 2018 10:10:58 GMT -6 frantastic said:

hawkward, I'm in Columbus too. Mind if I share the info on FB?

Yes, please! I got it off a milspouse FB page.

[Lakes]

Thank you for posting this! It’s such a simple, little thing to do but has a big impact on someone. My 92 year old grandfather (WWII, Korea, and Vietnam) still talks about the Honor Flight he did last year.

[emilyinparis]

I want to do this. What is everyone going to write in the cards?

[Deleted]

What type of things do you include in the letters. We lost my great grandpa this spring who was a WWII Vet and DS1 misses him deeply. Depending on what they want the letters about I think it’d be a great way to remember his grandpa and help him.

[hawkward]

Sept 11, 2018 10:55:07 GMT -6 emilyinparis said:

I want to do this. What is everyone going to write in the cards?

A good generic “thank you for your service and your sacrifice. You and your fellow service members are remembered and honored.”

A big part of what makes the Vietnam generation “special” is that their war was so controversial. Most were never thanked, many were harassed. My dad was medical, and he was spat on when in uniform. About five years ago, he was invited to take place in a small ceremony. He said it was the first time he’d ever been publicly acknowledged for his service. Literally just a “thank you” is so important.

[Rusty Red]

Also in C-bus, also had no idea this was a thing. Thanks!

[lucylou]

This is awesome. A few years ago, I went to an event for a WWII honor flight and it was so moving. They had poster copies of all the participants’ service photos lined up and it was really just something to see. I had never heard of Honor Flight before then but seems like such a great program.

[hawkward]

If you’re actually in the Columbus area, you can go to the airport and send them off/greet them upon return. A lot of places try to recreate the big homecoming servicemembers get now. Check it the Honor Flight website.

I’m not a crier, and the one I participated in gutted me.

[tater]

Thank you for this. Both of my grandfathers were career Army and my uncles were Navy and Marines during Vietnam. DS and I will be sending some thank you notes out tomorrow.

[onatrain]

I passed the info to some aunts that love doing this sort of stuff and one has already put the letter in the mail!

[Rusty Red]

Sept 11, 2018 11:48:09 GMT -6 hawkward said:

If you’re actually in the Columbus area, you can go to the airport and send them off/greet them upon return. A lot of places try to recreate the big homecoming servicemembers get now. Check it the Honor Flight website.

I’m not a crier, and the one I participated in gutted me.

I will have to check into this and maybe take DS. Thanks again!

[auburn]

My father served in Vietnam on an aircraft carrier. The way he was treated is heartbreaking. Thank you for sharing this. I will be sending a card.

[Deleted]

Thank you for sharing this.

[Bookshelves]

I will do this.
My dad gets to be an escort for a friend of his going on an Honor Flight next month. I can't wait to hear how it goes.

[hawkward]

Sept 11, 2018 14:25:40 GMT -6 Bookshelves said:

I will do this.
My dad gets to be an escort for a friend of his going on an Honor Flight next month. I can't wait to hear how it goes.

That's awesome! I looked into volunteering, but if you don't have a declared person you're escorting, it's $$$$$. 

[greykitty]

Thank you for posting this - I will send a card tomorrow. And thanks for providing a template of what to say that will be appreciated by the vets. Viet Nam vets truly were not honored in the way they should have been IMO; their service should not have been conflated with the ongoing protests. In those years, emotions were running so high on all sides; I regret that the vets didn't get the homecomings they so richly deserved.

[Bookshelves]

Sept 11, 2018 14:29:24 GMT -6 hawkward said:

Sept 11, 2018 14:25:40 GMT -6 Bookshelves said:

I will do this.
My dad gets to be an escort for a friend of his going on an Honor Flight next month. I can't wait to hear how it goes.

That's awesome! I looked into volunteering, but if you don't have a declared person you're escorting, it's $$$$$. 

Yeah, I don't even know how well he knows the guy (they're in a local organization together), but he said the friend was talking about how he'd love to go someday, but doesn't have anyone to take him. And my dad was like, well, I'd go with you anytime! The man is a Korean War veteran.

My dad was on the tail end of the Vietnam draft, but didn't get called. However, he had several much-older brothers who served in Korea and Vietnam years, and my brother is an Afghanistan war vet and still in the service. So you could say he's military-adjacent!

[emilyinparis]

Sept 11, 2018 11:07:57 GMT -6 hawkward said:

Sept 11, 2018 10:55:07 GMT -6 emilyinparis said:

I want to do this. What is everyone going to write in the cards?

A good generic “thank you for your service and your sacrifice. You and your fellow service members are remembered and honored.”

A big part of what makes the Vietnam generation “special” is that their war was so controversial. Most were never thanked, many were harassed. My dad was medical, and he was spat on when in uniform. About five years ago, he was invited to take place in a small ceremony. He said it was the first time he’d ever been publicly acknowledged for his service. Literally just a “thank you” is so important.

Ok thanks. I do remember hearing/learning in school that they were treated horribly upon returning from the war. I'd be happy to send something. Thanks for posting this.

[Taitai]

Thank you for sharing this hawkward We will send something 😊