LAGRANGE, Ga. — Thirteen veterans from LaGrange will travel to Washington on Tuesday as part of the area’s first Honor Flight. Among them are eight from the city’s First Presbyterian Church.
Honor Flight Network, a national program, takes veterans to the nation’s capital to visit the World War II Memorial and other monuments. The local trip is coordinated by West Georgia Honor Flight.
Jim Boyd, director of facilities at First Presbyterian, is part of the group trekking to the capital. He will serve as a guardian to a group of veterans. Honor Flight guardians are volunteers who assist and guide the veterans to each memorial.
Boyd is among four guardians from his church. He said it was important to the First Presbyterian congregation to make sure members of “The Greatest Generation” are honored and get the opportunity to reflect at the war memorial.
“I’m excited about it, and I think all the veterans are excited about it,” Boyd said, adding that he has been to the memorial. “I know what it is and it is awesome. I think this is going to be very overpowering for the veterans when they see it.”
The group from LaGrange will leave from First Presbyterian Church at 5:25 a.m. Tuesday. Boyd said the city police and county sheriff’s departments will lead them out of the city in a convoy.
LaGrange Mayor Jeff Lukken and County Commission Chairman Ricky Wolfe also are expected to attend the send off.
The son of a WWII veteran, Boyd said that part of American history is close to his heart. He initially heard about the Honor Flight through the Community Foundation and knew he had to go with veterans from his church.
Later, Bill Conine, the church’s parish associate, learned about West Georgia Honor Flight, and it became important for the congregation to send its veterans. Boyd said the church has solicited donations for the trip.
Veteran Charles Maddox is a member of First Presbyterian and is attending Tuesday’s flight. The spry 90-year-old fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was in an artillery battalion and kept other soldiers supplied with ammunition.
After the war, Maddox came home to LaGrange to marry his fiance, Margaret. They wed on Nov. 9, 1945.
Now, more than 60 years later, Maddox and several other men from his Bible class are readying to see the memorial to their bravery.
“I think it’s wonderful …” his wife said. “It will be meaningful to all the men.”
The veteran can’t wait to see the memorial. He said he wasn’t sure if it would be an emotional experience.
“I don’t get emotional over a lot of things,” he said.
His wife responded: “You might though.”
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