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Category: Front Page News Front Page News
Published: 19 March 2019 19 March 2019

By Mary Alice Murphy

On Wednesday, March 13, 2019, representatives of Honor Flight arrived in the snow from Las Cruces to talk to veterans and invite them to participate in the Honor Flights to Washington, D.C. to visit the military memorials.

Elaine Prickett and John Poland represented Honor Flight of southern New Mexico and El Paso.

"Originally, our program was just for World War II and Korean War veterans," Prickett said. "We have extended it to Vietnam veterans.Each hub throughout the country has different ways of doing things. Some, with more money, have expanded to the Iraq War, for instance."

Although the veterans wanted to visit their memorials in the nation's capitol, many weren't going because of financial or physical issues. "It began with a physician's assistant at a VA Clinic in Ohio who worked with World War II veterans. They were talking about the World War II memorial that was being built. The man asked how many were going to see it and not one person planned to go. A couple of pilots volunteered to take veterans to the memorials. Two veterans went the first time. The pilots stayed with the veterans."

"Our goal is to honor our veterans and welcome them home," Prickett said. "We are glad they were there for us. We want to make them feel special and that they deserve it. Many felt like they never got the welcome they deserved when they returned to the United States."

She said they visit three memorials—to World War II veterans, Korean War veterans and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. They go to Arlington National Cemetery, then to the Navy Memorial. They drive by the Marine Memorial, but don't stop because of uneven surfaces. They visit the Air Force Memorial.

"Our priority is to World War II veterans, then to Korean War veterans and then to Vietnam veterans," Prickett said. "We also look at their age and physical condition. We take 30 a year. Each veteran has a guardian with them. We have wheelchairs for those who need them. We don't let physical impairments keep them from going. We work with the airlines and hotels for oxygen, if needed."

Poland said in Mission No. 11 from the area, he served as a guardian for a veteran. "It was very rewarding. My veterans served in Korea and Vietnam. He said he got closure by being at the Vietnam Wall and seeing all the names. We are always looking for guardians. We want to get you veterans to your memorials. It is unique this year, we will have two missions. Sixty-seven Vietnam veterans are on the waiting list. It's a very worthwhile endeavor to be a guardian. When the veterans come home after the trip, they've made friends and they get together once a month to have breakfast. These breakfasts are held in Alamogordo, El Paso and Las Cruces. We are humbled to provide the honor flights. Veterans go at no cost. The guardians each pay $1000 to pay for their airfare, hotels and food. It's rewarding for the guardians as well."

Each veteran receives a yellow honor flight jacket. "Many veterans say they want to be buried in their yellow jackets," Prickett said. "I'm the videographer for the trips. I videoed one Vietnam veteran who said he needed to process the war. When he came back, a woman handed him a Welcome Home sign. He keeps it on the wall in his living room."

Ray Davis, past American Legion Post 18 commander, said he went last year on the flight, with his wife as his guardian.

"When we left at 1 a.m. in the morning, the New Mexico State University ROTC cadets were there. Fire departments hoisted big flags. The cadets had a sword aisle that we walked under," Davis said. "When we got to the Texas state line, State Police escorted us to the airport. The Patriot Riders were there, too. We flew on Southwest Airlines and in Houston we were treated to Chick Fil-a. We got to the airport in Baltimore and had a police escort into Washington, D.C., with cars parting in front of us. Kids with flags met us at the hotel. When we went to the mall of memorials, we again had a police escort. The 58,478 names on the Vietnam Memorial makes you realize the great loss of life there. At the Korean Memorial a South Korean military adjutant, a general, met us and thanked us. Another of the things that was impressive was the hundreds of people cheering for us in Washington, as well as at the airports."

Dan McBride, World War II veteran, said he went on the second honor flight from the area. "What got to me were the kids wanting to shake our hands and thanking us for our service. At the Houston airport, water cannons were shooting water over the airplane. Also at the Baltimore airport. The hotel where we stayed was really impressive. It almost looked over the Pentagon."

Davis continued his story. "On the way back, we had mail call. They handed each of us an envelope with letters from kids. It was a lot different from when we got home in 1965 or 1970."

Prickett said the veterans they've traveled with are "just a great group of people. We continue to try to find veterans to get them to Washington, D.C. to see their memorials. It's a challenge sometimes to even find the veterans, especially the World War II and Korean War veterans. It's also a challenge to find guardians for each one."

She said the five flight crew members on each flight include a doctor, so not just the guardians are looking out for the veterans. The crew manages a lot of the logistics. "If the veterans are fairly mobile, sometimes, we have two veterans to a guardian. Guardians are welcome to find sponsors to pay their costs. We usually take 26 to 32 veterans on a flight, depending on the number of guardians."

"The veteran doesn't pay for anything," Davis emphasized.

One of the American Legion veterans said the paperwork scared him.

Prickett also noted that Honor Flight always has waiting lists and sometimes they have dropouts at the last minute.

Davis agreed and said he got the call three days before departure.

A veteran asked how long the trip lasted.

Poland said: "Three days, with two travel days and one full day for the memorials.

Prickett confirmed that everything is paid for the veteran, including a yellow jacket or vest. "I am trying to document the trip on video. It gives an opportunity for the veterans to be interviewed or just to talk."

"For many it brings closure," Poland said.

Davis concurred. "It makes you feel appreciated for your service."

"Our goal is to make the veterans feel appreciated," Prickett said. "We are trying to get more partnerships to make more trips available. We ask you to get the word out. Our next trip is planned for May 1, 2 and 3 and the dates for October are not firmed up yet. Southwest Airlines is a big supporter and sometimes, it's the airline that pays for the veteran tickets. If you are interested in the trip, you can go online, print out the application, fill it out and send it in."

McBride said the sword tunnel was very impressive.

Prickett also said for those who live far away and need to spend the night before the trip in Las Cruces, "we are working on getting hotels to put you up. We all park at Memorial Medical Center in Las Cruces, where they have security for the vehicles. Memorial Medical is an amazing sponsor. When the veterans come to the pre-flight meeting, the hospital gives us a conference center and lunch. Hotels are located next to Memorial, too."

She said each hub across the country is local and raised money locally.

Prickett reminded the veterans that they need the new New Mexico ID or Driver's license in order to fly. "We don't usually take wives unless they are approved as the guardian."

Davis noted that the guardians have orange T-shirts that say Guardian.

"We deal with fragile people," Prickett said. "A company in Las Cruces that does embroidery on sports items and such, every year embroiders the names, rank and branch of service on the jackets at no cost to us. We are trying to get more of the community involved. We work with local companies. We are looking at companies outside of Las Cruces, too."

Poland said a nurse reviews the applications to make sure that all medical needs are met.

Although the local group doesn't yet serve veterans from Iraq, but on the last flight they had a Vietnam veteran who had also served in Iraq. It was the Vietnam connection that qualified him.

Prickett said sometimes those who served in Korea feel like they weren't recognized.

Roger Wright said that's why it's called the Forgotten war.

Prickett said the South Koreans love Americans for keeping them safe. "They don't call it the Forgotten War. They call it the Forgotten Victory."

Davis said on the flight he took, the South Korean general who welcomed them gave medals to all the Korean War veterans. The Korean War Memorial is a lot different from what you expected.

"Our bus driver was this tall Black older fellow," Davis said. "He was funny. With the police escort, he laughed and said: 'It's the first time I've had flashing lights in front of me.'"

Prickett said they also have reunions for those who have gone on Honor Flights. "They try to stay connected."

She also asked for schools to have their kids write letters to the Honor Flight veterans.

"We are trying to find a way to sustain the operations, as they are paid for from all private donations," Prickette said.

Poland said guardians are anyone with a heart for veterans.

For more information on the Honor Flights, visit www.honorflightnm.org.