Truly An Honor

You may recall that the May/June issue of Lake Mary Life featured a story about Honor Flight of Central Florida, a nonprofit organization dedicated to giving our local veterans a free trip to Washington D.C. to celebrate their heroic service and sacrifices.

Shortly after that story was published, I had the great privilege of taking an Honor Flight, myself, as a volunteer guardian. I was paired with Dave Dillon, an Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War. Dave and his friends Jack Crutchfield and Steve Elmer – who all reside in Central Florida – joined us with their volunteer guardians, Sophie Da Cru and Chris Ponder.

The day was long but extremely rewarding. We arrived at the Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) at 5:00 a.m. and flew to D.C., where we spent the day touring military monuments and memorials. Despite a two-hour delay due to a bus breakdown, we wrapped everything up and made it back home in good spirits by 11:30 p.m. From start to finish, the 60 veterans on the trip were given the VIP treatment, connecting with each other and building new relationships through shared experiences. One of the veterans on the flight had served during World War II, but the majority were from the Vietnam War era. What moved me the most about the entire day was the beautiful sight we came home to in Sanford. 

Despite the late hour, hundreds of our community members showed up at the airport to welcome our veterans home – a very different homecoming than what many soldiers experienced when returning from Vietnam all those years ago. The diversity of people who came out to support our local veterans was heartwarming. From police officers and Girl Scout troops to family members and friends, everyone in that building was there to express deep appreciation for what our veterans have done for our country.

Regardless of age, gender, race, or political affiliation, we can find connection through the Honor Flight of Central Florida’s efforts to pay tribute to our nation’s heroes.