VETERANS PRESS: Inland Northwest Honor Flight: A veterans chance to reflect, remember and be honored

"Honor Flight, I probably don’t qualify. I was never in a war or in combat!” 

“Honor flight? I’m not a veteran because I got drafted.” 

“Geez, I’m a woman. I don’t qualify for veteran’s anything let alone an Honor Flight. What is it, anyway?” 

These are just a few of the comments by veterans who either thought they did not qualify to be honored by their country for their military service or had no idea what the Honor Flight was all about. 

Many veterans in the Inland Northwest thought the Inland Northwest Honor Flight (INHF) was a free gift to go sightseeing. Some veterans felt that they sacrificed a part of their lives by serving in the military and that was it. They might say their country forgot about them or say what they did while in uniform did not matter much. Little did they know that their country was offering them a special time to be honored for the sacrifices they made while serving as a soldier, a sailor, a Marine or an Airman. The United States of America wants to give kudos to every one of them by focusing on its appreciation for their military service. That includes all the GIs in every branch of the service. Here is an organization (Inland Northwest Honor Flight) that is offering to actually bestow genuine honor on every veteran by spending a lot of money and showing their hard work that has resulted in a display of a sincere desire to make veteran’s efforts come alive.  

“The Honor Flight is not a sightseeing adventure. Yes, historic landmarks and other places of interest are seen. The honoring of veterans is the priority,” one veteran explained to his friend who was taking the Honor Flight for the first time. 

He said, “If you view this trip as a sightseeing venture, you will most likely not feel the impact and honors that are being bestowed upon you. You and I are special citizens because we served in the military and deserve to be remembered as warriors who were willing to fight to preserve the freedom we enjoy in this country,” he said. “We are valuable to America because of that service. And you and I deserve to be honored with a first-class journey on this Honor Flight to remember our service, put closure to our injuries and enjoy the fact that America thanks us for all we have done.”  

It took some real soul searching and a trip to our nation’s capital to realize the impact our country has made to preserve memorials of battles fought by simple citizens who loved the United States of America enough to serve in every possible way. Some gave their lives…others suffered the loss of limbs that altered their dreams…while even others were so impacted by their military experience they required professional help when their battles ended. 

Other GI’s cooked, some typed, others changed tires in the Motor Pool. Veterans drove trucks, wrote newspaper articles for the camp paper, trained almost constantly for combat deployment, and performed a myriad of jobs while in uniforms.  

All are veterans! 

Exactly what is the Inland Northwest Honor Flight? 

It is part of a network of like organizations throughout the United States founded for the specific purpose of honoring men and women veterans for their service. Founded in 2009 by Tony Lamanna,  it is a regional hub of the Honor Flight network.  

Lamanna had a vision to honor veterans. 

“I grew up in a family where we watched patriotic movies and movies about fighting for freedom, “he said. “My dad and I would talk about World War II  and I developed a deep respect for veterans and fighting military men and women.” 

When Lamanna heard about the Honor Flight program he decided to put footsteps to his dream by doing what he could to support and honor Veterans. 

“I mowed lawns and worked at whatever I could to show my support. This was years ago when I first heard about the Honor Flight Organization. In 2009 I was moved to start our local group and here we are!”  

“It sells itself!” 

The development of INHF is impacting all Veterans by helping them they are not alone, according to Lamanna. 

“Even in the foxholes and beaches of unknown territories. And on patrol through the jungles and rice paddies of foreign lands to the extreme heat of deserts sands….they are remembered, prayed for and  appreciated by citizens “back home,” he said.    

All trips are funded by donations from private citizens, civic groups, school groups, businesses and corporations. There is no cost whatsoever to veterans. 

“The mission of Inland Northwest Honor Flight is to transport Northwest War Veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit those memorials dedicated to honor their service and sacrifices," Lamanna said.  

He added, “since our inception, we have escorted over 2,700 World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War Veterans to Washington, D.C.” 

Volunteer Meikel said, “Tony has a real heart for Veterans!  With his leadership and the efforts of dozens of volunteers our Veterans experience a first-class trip and can see the love and respect through the way they are treated by everyone involved.”     

Meikel noted the cost and effort it takes to produce and operate an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. 

“Each flight cost about $250,000 to $300,000”, she said.  

“That includes chartering a commercial airplane and luxury busses that are fully equipped for the safety and comfort of Veteran passengers, a 5 star hotel, all meals, admissions and all other expenses. It does not cost our Veteran a cent. It is all free,” she said. 

On the flights, “Guardians,” people who assist disabled veterans or those with health issues, accompany the veterans during the entire journey. INHF provides wheelchairs at each airport and on the buses for those who need them. The 36-hour tour always has professional medical personnel present in case of an unexpected emergency. These aides are not physicians, but some may be nurses who volunteer their time. Occasionally a doctor who may or may not be a veteran will travel on the flight as a volunteer. 

Meikel also noted that volunteers and guardians do not necessarily have to be veteran themselves.  

“We have citizens in the community who go just because they want to be a part of honoring our veterans, “she said. She noted that each civilian volunteer will pay the required $900 needed to meet their own expenses.  

“Many times, we see grandkids accompanying Grandpa out of a loving and prideful relationship,” she reported. 

For years, the veteran-filled buses followed a police escort. Traffic was stopped as the buses weaved its way through the city. Meikel said the buses bared a sign on the side of the vehicle noting United States military veterans were aboard.  

“Sometimes we witnessed the cars stop and the people would wave and cheer as the busses passed. Some even saluted,” she said with a smile.  

“The police escorts have been placed on “hold” recently for various government reasons,” Lamanna explained.  

“We don’t know exactly why, but the INHF representatives are working with the Department of the Interior to get the services restored.” 

“There are a lot of great stories that come out of our escorted journey to Washington, D.C. Some of them are even funny…most of them are heartwarming,” It was easy to see the emotions on her face and in her voice as Meikel described the throngs of Washington, D.C., crowds that cheered and met the veterans.  

A 36-hour trip seems kind of rushed, doesn’t it?  

“Not really,” Meikel answered the question. “There is a time difference, so the trip is planned to take that into account. If one of the passengers kept his Spokane-set watch, we would have actually eaten dinner at 10 p.m. and had breakfast at three in the morning!  

She laughed,” But we adjust and mostly don’t even pay attention to the time difference.” 

Dinners are comprised of elaborate and delicious gourmet banquet food. Breakfast is a first-class dining event, complete with gourmet coffee and specialty breakfast items. Lunch is more than a simple boxed lunch. It contained a nutritious scrumptious meal, specially designed and catered.  

“Certainly, it’s better than C-rations,” quipped an aged battlefield soldier.” But he was laughingly reminded that the name C-rations has been changed to MREs (Meals Ready to Eat). 

Both vets laughed and agreed it surely would have been more of a delight sitting in a fox hole eating one of those catered gourmet boxed lunches!  

“The Honor Flights are not only very memorable but they, at times, are very moving,” Meikel noted. 

“Droves of High Schools kids would meet the buses as they began to park at the airports and memorials, and they would cheer and shake hands with every Veteran as they stepped off the bus. It was a very moving experience,” she said. 

Then she paused. 

“That was a very heartwarming moment because you could see the genuine interaction and tears in the eyes of a few of those young people. It was a very special time,” she said.     

Some of the students even kneeled down and indicated that they and others in the group were praying for the veterans as they disembarked. 

Congresswoman Kathy McMorris Rodgers once met a group of veterans at the Navy Memorial, greeting them and expressing her gratitude for their service. It was a significant time where the Veterans could take pictures and chat with her. 

The trips are well organized and unhurried. As the airplane sets down, instructions are read for loading the buses. Usually, the agenda is announced. 

The veterans often move through the gamut of cheering well-wishers inside the terminal. Immediately the buses head for the United States Air Force Memorial before checking in at a five-star hotel. Dinner is next, complete with words of honor, encouragement and praise by noteworthy speakers. 

Because of the time changes, it’s a late-night banquet and then off to hit the sack. Breakfast comes early and the buses head for a day of visiting the World War II Memorial, the Korea War Memorial, the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial, the Iwo Jima Memorial, the Women’s Military Museum, the Navy Memorial, the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial, and the Memorial of the Tomb of the Unknown.  

One of the more popular visits is a time spent at The Tomb of The Unknown and the changing of the Guards.  

One veteran said he had always heard about the memorial and read about the highly disciplined unit that guards it. 

“But watching it not only brought back some memories, but chills ran down my mine spine as I watched it,” he said. That segment of the visit also included a driving tour of Arlington National Cemetery. 

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial (often called “The Wall”) visit was a seemingly emotional time for several INHF guests. Men and women Veterans could be seem reaching out and touching the name of a friend and former comrade who gave his live in combat.  

It was a time of tearful memories. Many found closure to their grieving. All vets showed signs of pride and thankfulness for the honoring of fallen warriors. 

“The experience of seeing the Vietnam Wall really changed me. Seeing some of my friend’s names on the Wall was really moving. It’s hard to explain but it was a healing process for me going there. It feels a huge weight has been lifted off my back and I am a lot happier person,” said a Vietnam vet.  

Recently added to the DC Flight is the assistance of Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dogs (LCCCD). They send a Comfort Dog on each flight.  

Isaac is one of their most popular dogs. Through the generosity of LCCCD Veteran passengers take turns calling Isaac down the aisle to pet and “comfort” him. The dogs are very well accepted by the Veterans and stay with the entourage throughout the entire trip. Occasionally Isaac will remain with one certain veteran to help him feel comfortable and have close companionship. The U.S. Air Force has offered its trained Comfort Dogs also. 

The organizers and staff of INHF try to include the veteran’s whole family. Veteran families are notified so they can better understand the flight activities and the honoring of their loved one. 

Meikel repeated her previous explanation to each veteran’s family. She said, “A veteran doesn’t need to have been in a foreign country or been in combat to qualify to go. We honor ALL veterans no matter where they served.” 

The American Legion recently supported the U.S. Congress decision to allow all veterans who served during the Vietnam Era (1961-1974) to make claim of being “A Vietnam Veteran” regardless whether or not they ever served in-country Vietnam.  

“Everyone deserves to go (on the Honor Flight) she said. “It can be a life-changing experience.”  

The changes may include closure of the death of a friend who gave his life in combat.  

Many veterans have seen a change in their grieving process. Some veterans find their memories have been suppressed because of their battlefield experiences. 

“Not everyone sees changes in their lives as a result of the activities of the Honor Flight,” Meikel said. “We are constantly getting positive comments from those who have gone on the trip, but we also know of “healing moments” as Veterans share testimonies of their experience.” 

She encouragingly noted, “There is no reason not to go!”

For more information and details about when and how to sign up, go to the website at https://www.inwhonorflight.org/ or call at 509-624-0222.

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David Sutton is a former military journalist who served with the U.S. Army during the Vietnam Era. He resides in Spokane with his wife, Vickie.

    Sandi Meikel, Honor Flight volunteer.