Honor Flight

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	To Commemorate Veteran’s Day 2014

Honor Flight Bluegrass Oct. 2, 2014

		Photos by Jim and Kathy Cummings

On October 2, 2014 we were privileged to join the visitors at the Louisville International Airport in welcoming home Honor Flight Bluegrass. Although I was familiar with the Honor Flight program and had often thought about attending it wasn’t until someone we actually knew made the trip that we arranged to get it on our schedule. Fellow re-enactor and Painted Stone Settlers vice-president Dickie Phillips accompanied his father, World War II Veteran, Richard Phillips, Jr. to Washington D.C.

The Honor Flight program takes place across the country and is handled by local chapters. The veterans apply for the trip and are chosen to make the flight. It is a one day trip to view memorials in our nation’s capital. It is a citizen’s way of saying thanks. Veteran’s are chosen by age, health and mobility factors. One caregiver is able to make the flight with the veteran. These companions too, must meet certain criteria. Medically trained, active duty military personnel and veterans who have previously participated in a flight are given top priority. All expenses are covered by the Honor Flight Program through both corporate sponsorships and donations.

Many thanks to those volunteers who make the Honor Flights possible. To learn more visit www.honorflight.org or the Kentucky Chapter that sponsored the flight pictured here at www.honorflightbluegrass.org

The Bluegrass Chapter serves Veterans in the Kentucky Bluegrass region and Southern Indiana. Since 2008 Honor Flight Bluegrass Chapter has transported 1375 WW II Veterans. The chapter made four flights in 2014 serving about 250 or more of our WWII Veterans. Korean and Vietnam Veterans are also included in the Honor Flight Program as space is available.


	Waiting at Louisville International

	By Jim Cummings

As I entered the airport at 9:30 pm on a Thursday evening I asked the nearest attendant where I would find the gate for the returning Honor Flight. He just grinned and said follow the noise. As I went up the escalator the noise increased. I could not believe what I saw. Flag waving groups from all walks of life were laughing and singing patriotic songs. About 150 people stood waiting for the plane.


	While scouting for a spot to take photos I came across groups from a variety of veteran’s groups, military, friends and everyday folks.


	The Governor Isaac Shelby Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution lined one side of the walkway where the Veterans deplaned.








		The American Legion from Jeffersontown, KY




		Amvets Chapter 61, Louisville, KY




		Wave 3 News Caster Dawn Gee speaks with Chuck Scott of the SAR




	It was daughter-in-law Pam Ray Phillips that first started the plan to get her father-in-law Richard (June) Phillips into the program. She was on hand with her mother-in-law, Frances Phillips to welcome them home.


	Grandsons Kent Ray and Reed Scraeder pose with a UPS pilot who led the crowd in “God Bless America” . They also carried flags with The Sons of the American Revolution (right) and are members of The Painted Stone Settlers - a living history group in Shelbyville, KY


	The family poses for a photo before heading for home. Mr. Phillips served in the Navy in World War II. His son Dickie is also is a veteran - one of the criteria Honor Flights use when choosing a companion to accompany an elderly veteran.

It was 10:30 and the flight hadn’t landed yet, but that did not dampen the spirits of those waiting. The next time I turned to look behind where I was waiting the crowd had swelled again. It was 10:51 when I snapped the first photo of the Vets that had made the Honor Flight coming through the gate. They looked tired. It had been a long day since 7: 00 AM that morning when they had arrived at the airport. Tired but happy.

But that tiredness vanished as they approached the flags, the honor guard and their family and friends. Arms were raised in salute, hands reached out to shake theirs, they all sat a little straighter and walked a little taller. The day had been filled with a grateful nation thanking them for their service. They had been escorted by motorcade, stopped by visitors, met with current military. They had had photos taken, been interviewed and chatted with the other men on the trip. They had seen the World War II Memorial, it had brought back countless memories of those days some 70 years ago.


	The Veterans that made the Honor Flight

This phrase by humorist Will Rogers was printed on the back of the volunteers/supp orters shirts.

See the Video of the Returning Veterans

Special thanks to The Honor Flight Program, both for the work they do in making it possible for these Veterans to make the trip and also for allowing the public to witness and have a part in their homecoming. Welcoming home these heroes was an experience we will never forget. For more information contact the Kentucky Chapter at www.honorflightbluegrass .org and the national program at www.honorflight.org www.honorflight.org