GOSHEN — Honor Flight of Northeast Indiana was in Goshen last week to encourage veterans to participate in future honor flights. The idea to host the event was born after Korea veteran Don Kennedy of Goshen participated in the May Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. Kennedy felt HFNEI needed more exposure in the Goshen area and offered to help arrange the program.

The program was held at Grace Community Church in Goshen on Wednesday, Aug. 9. Dennis Covert, president of HFNEI , explained how he became involved as a guardian for a veteran and then was elected to the board of directors. Shortly after he retired, he was named president of HFNEI.

During his presentation, Covert showed a short video and photos of what a typical Honor Flight day looked like.
Veteran gather at 6 a.m. at the 122nd flight wing, an Air National Guard base connected to the Fort Wayne International Airport, in Fort Wayne. This is the only Honor Flight organization that gathers at an active military base.

Each veteran receives breakfast and a guardian, usually a family member who accompanies them on the trip. The flights are chartered through American Airlines.

Once the plane lands in Washington, D.C., guardians assist their veterans as they get on and off the bus six times to visit various monuments such as the World War II monument, the Korean War monument, the Military Women’s monument, Arlington National Cemetery and more.

Covert explained throughout the day strangers come up to the vets to thank them for their service, have their photo taken with them. Some of the photos Covert showed were of veterans being recognized for their service, such as one who received an award from the French government. He landed on the beach at Normandy during D-Day.

Showing a photo of the Women’s Memorial, Covert pointed out women have served in the military in some capacity since the American Revolution. Usually there are one to five women on each Honor Flight.

After a day of visiting the memorials, they fly back home, usually arriving in Fort Wayne around 10 p.m.
HFNEI does four honor flights a year, two in the spring and two in the fall. Priority is given to, in order: World War II veterans and any veteran who is terminally ill; post World War II veterans, Korean veterans and Vietnam veterans. Covert said HFNEI is already receiving applications from Persian Gulf and Desert Storm veterans.

During each honor flight approximately 85 veterans go. Along with guardians, there are usually three to six registered nurses and other medical personnel who accompany the veterans as they tour the city. Guardians are also required to go through a training session before the flight.

Those on the waiting list to go on an honor flight are usually given a few months notice before they go. If a veteran cannot go on a flight when notified, he or she is automatically put on the next available honor flight.

Laura Carrico began HFNEI during the summer 2007. She wanted her father to go and realized the waiting list was huge.

The cost of each flight is approximately $75,000, which covers the flight, buses, police escort throughout the day, meals, T-shirts and hats for the veterans.

For more information call (260) 633-0049 or visit www.hfnei.org or www.facebook.com/HFNEI