The light chatter quickly grows to a dull roar as veterans and volunteers of all ages meet and bond at the annual Coastal Georgia Honor Flight Training Day. They come from all walks of life: clerks, doctors, firemen, housewives, real estate agents, retirees, etc. But on May 5, 2018, a planeload of area veterans will proudly wear a commemorative hat naming and claiming him or her as an honored guest on the 2018 Coastal Georgia Honor Flight to Washington, DC. A veteran’s Honor Flight hat identifies his or her era of service as World War II, Korea or Vietnam and designates them as a U.S. veteran. The hats immediately become a badge of honor and a cherished keepsake of what many call “one of the best days of their lives.”
Coastal Georgia Honor Flight is one of 130 “hubs” in 44 states that honor veterans with DC site visits. Time and weather permitting, planned stops include the World War II, Korean and Vietnam Memorials, the Lincoln Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, including the famous Changing of the Guard Ceremony, the Marine Corps (Iwo Jima), Air Force and Navy Memorials. Financial donations from businesses and individuals help cover the $1000 cost to send each veteran on the flight. There is no cost to the veteran, and each guardian pays $500 to help cover the cost of his or her trip. American Legion and Auxiliary volunteers are one of many groups donating hundreds of hours each year to Honor Flight.
On April 14, one hundred fifty people will congregate to learn what to expect during the flight itself. Veterans, their “guardians,” or companions for the day, medical staff, volunteers, and the Honor Flight board share schedules, needs and plans for May 5. In addition to hats, name tags, and group tee-shirts, volunteers will distribute a wealth of items for the flight: commemorative blankets, Honor Flight pillows, and backpacks filled with all sorts of useful goodies which were donated by St. Simons Drug Co.
Flight director and Vice President of the Board, Mark Beaudry gives hundreds of hours each year to this endeavor and says he has “found his life’s calling in volunteering for Honor Flight.” Chandra Kendall, co-founder of Coastal Georgia Honor Flight and volunteer coordinator on the board, is equally committed. She handles details like making sure group tee-shirt orders will arrive on time and in the correct sizes. Each veteran and each volunteer wear a specially designed tee-shirt and name tag during the flight, identifying him or her as part of the Coastal Georgia group. Once in DC, hundreds of other visitors are on the scene and it is helpful to have a quick visual of the local group. Kendall stays busy with “all things recognizing our veterans.” The recipient of the 2017 Civilian Recognition Award from the Veterans Council of the Golden Isles, Kendall manages a literal army of flight volunteers to make the event happen.
Steve Kendall
Chandra Kendall is a pro at making sure every last detail is covered.
Training Day impresses upon “guardians” the seriousness of their purpose. Larry Myers Jr., Vice Commander of American Legion, Post 9, Brunswick, Georgia, will be a guardian this year. “As a Vietnam veteran, I know that the emotions will come. The hurt, the resentment, and thoughts they have carried for 50 years will come to the surface. And it will transform them in a good way for the rest of their lives. My mission is to be there as a safe and understanding friend, a listening ear…somebody who knows what they went through.”
Bennie Williams, wears many hats in his work to support US veterans. He experienced Honor Flight first-hand as a 2017 veteran participant and will be a guardian this year. As an Honor Flight board member, the local Post 9 American Legion Commander and the Sr. Vice Commander, 8th, District, Southeast Region, Williams has heard countless personal stories of how Honor Flight changed the lives of veterans. “If you have served in the military, you have comrades in arms who truly understand what you experienced. That bond during Honor Flight helps people heal, talk about their experience, remember people they lost during a war, and release any demons they might have. It is a great honor to be able to participate in this and continue to give that experience to other veterans.” His blue eyes twinkle as he describes his own Honor Flight in 2017, “It was the best trip I’ve ever been on. I got off that flight last year and said to my wife that I was going back next year as a guardian. The bonding and recognition of shared military experience is healing; you almost can’t describe what it does for veterans. Training Day brings it home that the event is all about our veterans. Yes, Honor Flight is fun, but it has a very sincere purpose. We’ll spend April 14 making sure the volunteers and guardians understand how serious their role is during the flight.”
Honor Flight creates profound feelings—reflection, remembering, and reunion—regardless of a person’s branch of service. Some experience a life-changing catharsis of feelings held in for a lifetime. Honor Flight staff and volunteer have heard reactions like, “I could never talk about my war-time service before. This helped me release the demons,” and “It was a reunion with my military brothers and sisters that I didn’t even know I needed.” Or even this from a spouse, “I have been with my husband for 63 years; he never once spoke about his WWII service until this flight. It’s like meeting a whole new side of him; he is finally talking about it.”
Everyone is invited to help welcome the veterans and guardians home in the community-wide Heroes Homecoming at 9:00 p.m., May 5, at the Brunswick airport. Last year, over 650 people welcomed the returning flight, giving them the heroes’ welcome they deserve.
For more information about Coastal Georgia Honor Flight, visit coastalgeorgiahonorflight.org. For additional veteran opportunities and networking, contact the American Legion, Post 9, Brunswick, Commander Bennie Williams at benniekarol@yahoo.com.
