This coming Saturday night July 31st, you are cordially invited to Port Columbus to witness the return of some high level VIPs from Washington DC. Some will be in wheelchairs, some on oxygen support, and some will be walking with the aid of a cane; but everyone of these VIPs will be smiling - you can bet your bottom dollar on that!!
Why? Because they've been given the chance to hear "Thank you". A thank you that's been a long time coming. A thank you that can never be big enough or loud enough. A thank you that can never come from enough Americans to fully affirm the gratitude we harbor in our hearts.
Who are these VIPs? Dear friends, they're SOLDIERS; from all sectors of our Armed Forces. These true patriots are the men and women who've laid their lives on the line to protect our freedom from enemies abroad. They left home and families, dreams and aspirations. Bravely they walked tall and straight directly into harm's way. All of them have individual stories; they all came home to find a different world than the one they left. Each one came home a different person than when they left. And each one of them has a story to tell about someone they stood and fought with side by side who didn't come home. Some of them, however, can't verbalize what happened to them; it's still too painful. Some can speak, but never without tears, about the price paid for our freedom.
Honor Flight (www.honorflightcolumbus.org) is an organization dedicated to giving thanks to these heroes in the warmest, most respectful, most meaningful way possible. Any veteran of WWII (and terminally ill veterans of The Korean War and Viet Nam) are given a day at Washington DC to be honored with a visit to their own specific Military War Memorial, completely free of charge, all expenses paid. Honor Flight Guardians, trained volunteers who pay out of their own pocket to be a part of the team, accompany the veterans, insuring complete safety as well as making sure that Honor Flight lives up to its name not just in word, but in deed.
Honor Flight donors are at the heart of this gratitude. Organizing for Freedom is proud that we have voted to take on Honor Flight as our community project for the coming year. Several people have stepped up to take part. The Knox County 9-12 Project, who've raised over $16,000 to co-sponsor a unusually large upcoming flight (it takes $13,000 to fully sponsor one 'normal' flight), has challenged us to see what we can do. Well, what can we do?? I say let's show 'em! If you were at our last meeting, you watched a plain apple crumb-top pie transform miraculously from a dessert to a donation to the tune of $140 (thank you, Charlie Tisdale-)! Wow. And so it begins; our work with Honor Flight.
Today you can begin by thinking of the most effective fund-raising efforts known to mankind. Also, write down any contacts within the school system, the veteran's administration system, our local governmental system, contacts in the media---anyone who could be centrally helpful to get the word out -- both to identify veterans that may not yet have had the opportunity to go, and to folks who will want to say thank you, and prove their thanks by donating.
But, really, the first step for us within our organization is to witness the true reward: the welcome home. To see what Honor Flight is all about; to see the why. The thank you these men and women deserve. And YOU are invited to be a part of it all. This Saturday night, at Port Columubus. Vets' ETA 8:50 p.m. into Port Columbus. They'll come into the terminal at 9:40. We want to be there no later than 8:30. We can car-pool if you'd like. Please feel free to call me, Juanita, at 740.975.3399.
We'll be there...to say "Thank you!"
