Honor Flight thanks you

On Wednesday, Oct. 26, Honor Flight Myrtle Beach took off for Washington, D.C., with 84 WWII veterans. This was our third trip and we hope to continue until we have reached as many WWII veterans from the Grand Strand and surrounding areas who are able to make the trip. Since a national memorial in their honor wasn’t completed and dedicated until 2004, time truly is of the essence in giving these aging veterans this opportunity.

Honor Flight Myrtle Beach is a nonprofit organization made up completely of volunteers so we are dependent on the generosity of businesses, organizations, and individuals to make these trips a reality. While much of the focus is on the flight and seeing the memorials, the trip begins the moment the veterans step foot in the airport. Therefore, the appropriate starting point is to thank Myrtle Beach International Airport personnel, their volunteers, TSA, and Horry County police for all they do to make our time and movement through the airport as stress-free as possible.

Upon airport arrival for this most recent flight, veterans and guardians were entertained by Conway High School’s a cappella choral group prior to going upstairs to the gate. Once at the gate, Masons from the 29th District and their appendant bodies, including the York and Scottish rite and the Shriners, came together to provide breakfast items and assist the veterans in any way they could.

Taking a slight detour from the airport, Honor Flight Myrtle Beach wants to acknowledge a special partnership we have developed with the first grade classes from Glebe Elementary School in Arlington, Va. They were present at the entrance to the WWII memorial as we arrived from our inaugural flight on Nov. 10, 2010. Their teachers wanted to give the students a more personal understanding of Veterans Day. As our veterans passed between the columns of youngsters waving flags and chanting, “USA, USA”, they were enthralled by the appreciation shown by such little ones. As a result, we requested the students be present for our return flights and we are confident their support will last for many flights to come.

Without the outpouring of gratitude from various groups and the general public, the return to the Welcome Home festivities wouldn’t be the heartfelt, emotional event that it has become. Those whose presence we have come to depend on and are grateful for their participation include Mayor John Rhodes along with other Myrtle Beach City Council members, and other local and county officials; various Knights of Columbus assemblies from the Grand Strand area who honored our veterans in full dress regalia and swords; North Myrtle Beach High School NJROTC; Festive Brass providing a background of patriotic music; members of the Daughters of the American Revolution, who always come with roses for our lady veterans; members of the Patriot Guard, Rolling Thunder, and Old Coots on Scoots; representatives from several of the area’s Blue Star Mothers groups; and Boy Scout Troop 396 from Murrells Inlet.

In addition, we were pleased to have representatives from Woodmen of the World and students from Palmetto Academy and the National Honor Society of Conway High School. Many individuals present may be family, friends, and neighbors of trip participants or just people who heard about the Welcome Home and want to show their admiration for the veterans of the “Greatest Generation.”

There may have been representatives from other groups or organizations that haven’t been mentioned and we apologize for the oversight. Please know that we are extremely grateful for all who provide support because it means so much to our most senior veterans.

Our next Honor Flight will be May 23, 2012. We are seeking WWII veterans and people interested in serving as a guardian. Please contact us at 843-957-8212 or visit our website at www.honorflightmyrtlebeach.com

On behalf of the entire Honor Flight team: Thank you!

The writer is director of Honor Flight Myrtle Beach.