Tuesday, Jun. 02, 2009

Donate to honor flight program

In early March, I wrote about the Honor Flight Network that provides free transportation for World War II veterans to fly to Washington to visit the World War II memorial. Last week, Lily Gordon wrote about the new West Georgia Honor Flight program.

Nonetheless, I think this program is sufficiently important to warrant a second look.

A friend of mine, Robert Amon (originally a friend of my parents-in-law) recently made this trip. He used an Honor Flight service out of Florida. He said the trip was a great success. Buses carried the group to the memorial and returned them to the airport for the ride home that afternoon. They had policemen escorting the buses and helping with traffic. Volunteers, known as guardians, escorted the veterans and helped out where needed. Amon said seeing the World War II Memorial was very special, and everyone on the trip had a great time.

At a recent Military Order of the World Wars meeting, Frank Lumpkin Jr. explained the program and provided contact information.

The West Georgia Honor Flight organizers are talking up the program at a variety of venues. This is a great opportunity for our veteran community.

Now our local veterans will have an opportunity to participate in this program without having to travel to the Atlanta area or even another state.

Since the veterans fly free, the West Georgia Honor Flight is working to raise the funds to support the program.

The Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley, Inc. is helping by listing the Honor Flight Fund as a Designated Fund. Tax deductible donations can be made by phone, on the Internet, or by mail. Call 706-320-0027 for telephone contributions.

Checks may be mailed to The West Georgia Honor Flight Fund c/o The Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley Inc., 1340 13th Street Columbus, GA 31901-2345. The total trip costs approximately $68,000.

People can help by contributing money or encouraging organizations to which you belong by asking them to contribute.

Guardians are needed to escort the veterans and must pay their own transportation costs of $400. Volunteers are needed to help the program operate.

This is an opportunity for the community to step up and show our appreciation for the men and women who pledged their lives in World War II.

The West Georgia Honor Flight is planning to transport 100 veterans and 50 guardians to Washington on Sept. 22.

Questions can be asked by calling 706-507-9944.

This program is one deserving help from all of us. If you’re a World War II veteran, sign up to go.

John M. House is a retired Army colonel who lives in Midland, Ga. His e-mail is housearmylife@aol.com.