The first all-era and all-ladies Honor Flight began as a thought almost a year ago,
which became an ideal,
which then started a conversation with Sharon Lake, vice president of the Great River Honor Flight.
Which she always wanted to do as well, she said.
Which then went to the GRHF board,
Which then the long meetings and planning began,
Which then applications started pouring in,
Which then led to the phone calls of who was going to be asked to accept their mission.
Which led to our 37 lady veterans to the drive and fly to the Hannibal, Mo., American Legion on July 18 to start their two-day mission to Washington, D.C.
The different eras were: 5 Vietnam, 18 Gulf War, 14 Afghanistan; from 22 Missouri, 1 California, 1 North Carolina, 2 Texas and 11 Illinois.
On June 18, arrival time at the Hannibal American Legion was 9 a.m. for orientation and breakfast from Mimi's, then touring downtown Hannibal museums. Finn's Food & Spirits Restaurant provided lunch at a low cost. Then over to the Memorial of
ILASCO where they made us their grandma's desserts, then the Mark Twain River Boat and back to the Legion for a quick dinner. Then off for a quick nap, to be back at HLG at 1 a.m., where the Red Cross serviced us breakfast from Quincy Hy-Vee and sent us on our way for our second day of our mission to Washington, D.C. Where the memories will never be forgotten as well as our sisterhood.
On the second day, we departed from Lambert's airfield arriving in Baltimore-Washington with a water-gun salute from the fire department. We visited the Vietnam Memorial, Korean Memorial, Iwo Jima Memorial, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and witnessed the changing of the guards, Seeing the historic sites in our national capital, ending with the Women's Memorial Museum, having a light lunch and being presented with "Herstory," a piece of history that is now registered in the women's museum.
I don't want to forget Southwest Airlines, who helped make our five-hour delay a lot easier and less stressful. We had 28 pizzas delivered to us, and they went to Target and got some pillows, personal essential items and then came down with blankets. Then sending us off with all of our theme songs being played over the intercom in our terminal. We Salute You Great River Honor Flight #76.
Our welcome home at 3 a.m. had 25 motorcycle and police escorted back to the college, where we had patriots and veterans welcoming us home and handing out many gifts and shaking each and every one of our hands.
Thank you again, Great River Honor Flight and all other businesses and organizations who helped make these everlasting memories for all 37 lady veterans and their guardians. "We will never forget."
