10-08-08 Roswell Rotary Presents Honor Air…Part 2!

Roswell Rotary President Bob Hagan & Assistant District Governor Vince Clanton

The Roswell Rotary escorted 100 of Georgia's North Fulton World War II veterans to Washington, D.C. on October 8, 2008. This is the second Honor Air trip the club has taken this year! It is so important to take as many WWII veterans as possible, our opportunity to celebrate them for the victories they won for us are becoming limited. The war ended more than 60 years ago. Young men then are into their eighties now.

"The Honor Flight program was conceived by Earl Morse, a Physician Assistant and Retired Air Force Captain, to honor veterans he has taken care of for the past 27 years. After retiring from the Air Force in 1998, Earl was hired by the Department of Veterans Affairs to work in a small clinic in Springfield, Ohio. In May of 2004, the WWII Memorial was finally completed and dedicated in Washington DC which quickly became the topic of discussion among his WWII Veteran patients. Earl repeatedly asked these veterans if they would ever travel out to visit THEIR memorial. Most felt that eventually, somehow, they would make it to DC perhaps with a family member or friend. the first flight took to the air in May of 2005." Read more about the Honor Air Program at www.honorflight.org

The trip is at no cost to the World War II veterans. The Honor Air Flight is to honor as many of these selfless "ordinary people who saved the world" as possible by providing them a completely free day trip, with personal attention be given to their needs to visit their Memorial.

This trip took approximately 100 World War II veterans plus guardians, doctors and emergency personnel. On October 8, 2008 in early morning hours the participants went to the Atlanta airport and flew on a chartered flight to Washington, D.C., where they were escorted by bus from the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to the World War II Memorial. They also visited the Vietnam Memorial and the Tomb of Unknown Soldier. They then returned to the Reagan airport, flew back to Atlanta and then to Roswell completing the one day trip. The program operates on donations from local businesses, organizations and individuals. The volunteer guardians pay their own way. A price cannot be placed on this tribute to our heroes from WWII. Even in lean times these flights must continue. I call on you to support Honor Air!

More information available at www.roswellrotary.com

Honor Air Group.
The Veterans, their guardians’ and President Elect Elwyn Gaissert
(front row, second from left, white shirt) & President Bob Hagan
(also front row, 5th from the left, blue jacket/white shirt)

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