More than 600 veterans and guardians from past Villages Honor Flight missions met Friday at North Lake Presbyterian Church for a Villages Honor Flight Grand Reunion,
Villages Honor Flight was formed in July, 2011 to support Honor Flight efforts in Lake County/Sumter County/South Marion County area. This area has a large number of World War II vets and prior to the Villages Honor Flight, those vets had to rely on other Florida chapters — the probability that they would get to see the World War II Memorial was slim.
“I am proud to stand here today and say that we have flown over 500 Veterans, each with their own personal Guardians, on 23 missions, beginning in 2012. Of those, four were flightless Honor Flights held here locally for those veterans unable to make the long day, and one was also a first ever Prison Flightless Flight in October 2015,” said Mark Erdrich, president and a founding member of Villages Honor Flight. “The flightless honor flights, and prison flightless honor flight, were started here and have become a model for the Honor Flight nationally.”
The Villages Cheerleaders, The Villages Twirlers and Drum Corps, American Legion Honor Guard, Pops Chorus and numerous more local entertainers performed at the grand reunion. It was similar to the homecomings that were held after each of the 16-hour flights to Washington D.C. – without the veterans being so tired.
When asked what stood out in her mind about the flights, Veterans Coordinator for Villages Honor Flight said, “Having participated in 17 of the flight missions as a guardian, squad leader and/or MXO it is hard to say what stories, events, etc. that have really stood out. Each flight was unique in that the veterans were all so appreciative, humble and grateful that it was worth all the volunteer hours that each and every one put into making the flights so successful. I have made so many wonderful friendships with my veterans and many others that I have had the wonderful opportunity to meet and get to know long after the flights.”
Margaret Green-Whitt and her guardian Judy Simms attended the reunion together. Margaret served in World War II in the South Pacific. “It is so nice to be with Judy again. We have become friends. This was wonderful,” said Green-Witt.
On a personal note: I was a guardian for World War II veteran Wendell Adell on Villages Honor Flight on Oct. 5, 2013 and all the monuments in Washington D.C. had been shut down because the government budget had not been funded. Most park rangers had been put on furlough with an exception of a few who were guarding the barricaded entrances to the monuments. On the bus from the airport to the memorials an announcement was made that “because the monuments are closed due to budget problems, and government shutdown, we are not sure we will be able to visit the monuments today.”
Almost in unison the World War II vets responded with, “The Japanese didn’t keep us from Iwo Jima, park police surely will not keep us from OUR monument!” As the WWII vets (wearing their World War II Vet hats) and guardians went around the barriers the park police looked the other way. The trip in its entirety was something I will always cherish. And yes, there is a bond between my World War II Vet (and my Hero) Wendell Adell that’s hard to explain.
Looking around the room there were Veterans and Guardians, who were united not long ago, acting like lifetime long friends. A bond had been formed in many cases that will last forever. Stories have been told that while at the memorials in Washington D.C.. Many emotions were brought out of the vets, sometimes evoking stories they had never told to anyone about their war experiences, but were now sharing with their new friend, their Guardian. There were many tears at the memorials by both the Vets and Guardians, some of joy and some of sorry.
Now that almost all of the area World War II veterans have flown the Villages Honor Flight is beginning to concentrate on our Korean War Veterans. Six missions are planned for 2016, including two “flightless” missions.
