While Honor Flight Arizona Takes a Pause, We Take Time to Look Back
by Rick Hardina, Honor Flight President
Memories of special times spent with some very special people
As most friends of Honor Flight Arizona have heard, our flights have currently been suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak. Although we had hoped to resume our 3-day journeys of thanks and remembrance by early 2021, we have been advised by our Honor Flight National Board of Directors that Spring flights may not be likely.
Noting the age of many of our World War II and Korean War Veterans (in their 80’s and 90’s), we do not want to take any unnecessary chances with regard to their health during our trips to their memorials in Washington, D.C.
It is hoped that we will be able to resume our mission later in 2021, but again we will have to await the go-ahead from Honor Flight Network.
Veterans and Guardians awaiting future trips can expect to be advised by phone of their flight/trip details approximately two months prior to departure.
In the meantime, we would like to take this opportunity to take you on a brief look back to a few of the thousands and thousands of memories we have shared together over the years here at Honor Flight Arizona….
November 3, 2009. Where it all began! Honor Flight Arizona anxiously awaits its first departures from Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix. Susan Howe, founder of Honor Flight Arizona is in the first row, far right. Back then, very few folks knew anything about the nonprofit Honor Flight program and funding was difficult!
January 15, 2012. Several World War II Veterans participated in Honor Flight Arizona’s first fund-raising golf tournament. The very successful event took place at the Gold Canyon Golf Resort and featured major sponsors that included Jelly Belly Company (headquartered in California) and Pinal Partnership. Here, our lead-off World War II Veteran takes the opening shot of the tournament. Fellow-World War II Veterans are there to study his style and to root him on!
April 8, 2012. Honor Flight Arizona volunteers are joined by several World War II Veterans on the sidewalk outside of the Bashas’ Supermarket in Gold Canyon, Arizona. Back then, most individual donations rarely exceeded $20, but we were all truly amazed when one afternoon a customer spoke with one of our WWII Veterans, disappeared for a short time, then returned with enough money to completely sponsor a World War II Veteran on a trip!May 13, 2015. Honor Flight Arizona Volunteers are escorted down to the airport tarmac and offer a farewell salute to our departing Veterans.November 6, 2015. Honor Flight Arizona Veterans and their Guardians pose for a photo alongside a seated Franklin Delano Roosevelt at the F.D.R. Memorial in Washington, D.C.November 10, 2015. Long-time Honor Flight Arizona friend and prolific contributor Gaye Platt joins a World War II Veteran in celebrating our 50th flight departure from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.October 5, 2016. World War II Veterans, Guardians and Honor Flight Arizona trip leaders pause for a photo at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.November 2, 2016. A few of our Korean War Veterans pose for a photo prior to departure. This was the first all-Korean War Veterans Honor Flight departing from Phoenix!May 25, 2017. Korean War Veterans at the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C.March 13, 2018. Here to serve you! Diana and Diane (one a Volunteer and Guardian and the other a Board Member) serve hot coffee to our Honor Flight Arizona Veterans near the Korean War Memorial on a very, very chilly March day in Washington, D.C. And we always carry along extra blankets, gloves, ponchos and umbrellas–just in case!October 22, 2019. Five proud and happy ladies who served in the Korean War await their Honor Flight Arizona departure from Phoenix, Sky Harbor Airport.
9 Comments on “While Honor Flight Arizona Takes a Pause, We Take Time to Look Back”
Thanks for doing a great job. I served in the Navy 62 70 and in Nam From 64 67. I wasn’t able to go untill now. And would like to be put on the list. FTG2 served on RS EDWARDS DD950. How to i apply. JOHN Ritter Surprise Az
We’d love to have you fly with us! The Veteran application is under the “Veterans” tab on our website, or this link: https://honorflightaz.org/veterans/
I look forward as Viet Nam veteran to serve as a guardian on a future Honor Flight for Viet Nam veterans.
I love it. My husband is a decorated Vietnam combat vet and I am a Vietnam era vet. He is 100% service connected PTSD vet. I am a 70% service connected PTSD vet. Thank you for your service to AZ vets.
Please sign up if you wish to go! The Veteran application is under the “Veterans” tab on our website, or this link: https://honorflightaz.org/veterans/
Please sign up to go applies to both of you!
Thank you Honor Flight. My Mom, Anna Parker, was a WWII Navy nurse. I was able to travel with her on her 99th birthday and it was the honor of a lifetime. The trip meant so much to her and probably even more to me. Mom passed away last year at the age of 102 and I am so thankful we were able to experience this together. God bless all of you.
Hi Jon. Thank you for sharing your experience and memories! We are so glad to hear that the Honor Flight mission makes such an impact on the lives of our Veterans and their families. Blessings to you and your family as well.
Thanks for doing a great job. I served in the Navy 62 70 and in Nam From 64 67. I wasn’t able to go untill now. And would like to be put on the list. FTG2 served on RS EDWARDS DD950. How to i apply. JOHN Ritter Surprise Az
We’d love to have you fly with us! The Veteran application is under the “Veterans” tab on our website, or this link: https://honorflightaz.org/veterans/
I look forward as Viet Nam veteran to serve as a guardian on a future Honor Flight for Viet Nam veterans.
You can travel with us as either Veteran or guardian…or both! Veteran information and application is here: https://honorflightaz.org/veterans/ Guardian information and application is here: https://honorflightaz.org/get-involved/guardians/
I love it. My husband is a decorated Vietnam combat vet and I am a Vietnam era vet. He is 100% service connected PTSD vet. I am a 70% service connected PTSD vet. Thank you for your service to AZ vets.
Please sign up if you wish to go! The Veteran application is under the “Veterans” tab on our website, or this link: https://honorflightaz.org/veterans/
Please sign up to go applies to both of you!
Thank you Honor Flight. My Mom, Anna Parker, was a WWII Navy nurse. I was able to travel with her on her 99th birthday and it was the honor of a lifetime. The trip meant so much to her and probably even more to me. Mom passed away last year at the age of 102 and I am so thankful we were able to experience this together. God bless all of you.
Hi Jon. Thank you for sharing your experience and memories! We are so glad to hear that the Honor Flight mission makes such an impact on the lives of our Veterans and their families. Blessings to you and your family as well.