3 minute read
Veteran Valor
Deliving Chstmas Che to Vets
Most know the Honor Flight for the amazing work they do to take veterans to Washington, DC to see their respective memorials. For years the Honor Flight team has been hosting World War II, Korean and Vietnam Veterans for a once in a lifetime day trip of honor and celebration. The day includes trips to most of the military memorials and ends with an amazing welcome home celebration with the airport lined with well-wishers and patriotic gourds greeting them as they walk through the terminal. However, for the past three years, the members of Honor Flight Bluegrass have been adding some extra special yuletide cheer to area veterans. Now during the holidays, the board has organized an amazing outreach to receive Christmas and holiday cards for our heroes, making sure they know they are remembered throughout the year, especially at Christmas. "We are excited about our third annual Christmas Cheer campaign this year for our veterans. Honor Flight Bluegrass and all of their friends want our veterans to know that we think of them throughout the year and especially during the Christmas season," says Kelli Oakley, a board member and photographer for Honor Flight Bluegrass. The first year they received cards from over 35 states and were able to provide over 1600 veterans with at least 10 Christmas cards per recipient. Although their initial goal was 3,500, they received nearly 23,000. The outreach from people was widespread and reached veterans in numerous places. Whether they're at home, in a senior living center or one of Kentucky's veteran long-term care facilities, the cards remind them of their time in service when they had "mail call."
"We hear from our veterans over and over how special and memorable mail call was to them while they were serving, so we want to bring that same joy to them," says Oakley. "The 70-plus age group of Veterans still love to get mail! " Mail call is the time during military service when military members receive their mail. Their name is called like roll call if they have gotten mail. For most of our military serving prior to modern technology of cell phones and FaceTime, receiving mail was the most desired form of communication.
"Hearing my name called during the roll call for mail call made me feel so good," stated Vietnam Veteran Ronnie French, who retired from the Marine Corps as a Staff Sergeant. "I remember being in Vietnam during Christmas, we were ordered to go in country on Christmas Day in 1967 for Operation Badgertooth. I was wounded two days later. It was a tough time being away from home, but we knew our mission was to protect the men around us, and that made it a bit better. Receiving mail from home during those tough times was a lifesaver!"
During most of the Honor Flights throughout the country, there is a time for Mail Call while the veterans are awaiting their returning flight. These cards come from an array of people and groups who all write to say thank you for their service and is a huge hit after a long day in the nation's capital. For many of the veterans, they regain stories of being away from home for long periods of time This Christmas, thousands of veterans will be getting a bit of nostalgia in their mailboxes from thousands of fans. To learn more about Honor Flight Bluegrass, please visit www.honorflightbluegrass.org • Heather French Henry has been a local, state and national advocate for military veterans and their families for over 20 years.
