What an experience! That about wraps it up. Any veteran who has not participated in a Villages Honor Flight must apply. It does not matter when you served or whether or not you were in a combat zone. If you are a veteran, you qualify and deserve to get the appreciation you have earned. Just go to: https://www.villageshonorflight.org and apply.
I first applied to be a guardian on Honor Flight 41 in September of 2018. I wanted to help to recognize our veterans for their service. To my surprise, I was impacted so much by that experience, that I looked forward to the day when I could go myself as a veteran. The veteran I was a guardian to on Sept. 6, 2018 was Captain James A. Howd, Distinguished Flying Cross recipient. On April 17,1968, Jim’s heroic actions in Vietnam, during a violent attack, saved an entire long range reconnaissance team while facing superior enemy forces. (Faces of the Distinguished Flying Cross of Central Florida). Through his eyes, I was able to get some idea of the impact that Honor Flight has on our many deserving veterans. Jim’s story is one of the thousands that are honored by Villages Honor Flight.
The smiles and tears of remembrance that I witnessed that day will be remembered forever. I would never attempt to speak on behalf of such a humble hero. But anyone who has seen the reaction of these dedicated men and women honored by Villages Honor Flight will know the impact it has upon each and every one of them and it is undeniably positive.
Now that I have also had the honor of participating in Villages Honor Flight 68, I can say that it is a memory of a lifetime. I have the unique perspective of having served in “The Old Guard” in the late 1960’s. I do not believe I fully comprehended the impact of the ceremonies in which I participated nor the effect they had on the families who suffered such tremendous losses. Now as I see the young Sentinels of The Tomb of the Unknown and the funerals in Arlington, perform their practiced routines, I know it was much more than a job as I saw it then as young soldier.
Returning now, almost sixty years later, as an old veteran and having the honor of Laying a Wreath, along with, Perk Perkins, Rickey Rivenburgh and Norman Kasch, was the height of the trip for me and I hope for them as well. We had the distinct honor to represent all of the sixty-eight veterans on flight 68 including World War II Navy veteran Ray Wheeler.
The dedication of the Villages Honor Flight organization is unprecedented. The officers, volunteers, support staff and fund-raising partners all contribute so much to the continuing success of the organization that it is almost incomprehensible. Villages Honor Flight has given thousands of veterans something money cannot buy – dignity for their service! You see many of these veterans must be convinced to go. They never served for any other reason than a sense of duty to their country. And, for that many were scorned or simply forgotten.
Villages Honor Flight restores a sense of pride in every veteran they serve, without exception. Just ask any one of the thousands of honorees.
The memorials in Washington D.C. were built for veterans like them. I am not sure that they recognize that fact until they stand there in awe of it all. The numbers of dead are staggering but even more the numbers of living are even greater. Villages Honor Flight gives every veteran the comfort of knowing that someone cares! Many of the hundreds of volunteers are not veterans themselves but they still work diligently to provide this memory to those who served. Bravo! Thank You to all the officers, staff, guardians, volunteers, medical support staff, American Legion Post #347 and the escorts to the flights (police, fire and clubs) who give so much to recognize the service of all veterans!
Robert Nyce is a resident of The Villages.