Veteran Frederico Guzman in Washington D.C. attending an Honor Flight trip to the monuments. Photo courtesy of Honor Flight Southern Nevada.
MOHAVE COUNTY – Honor Flight is a national, non-profit corporation made to honor and pay respects to veterans of WWII, The Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The organization has been providing veterans with this 100% free opportunity since 2005. Honor Flight Southern Nevada (HFSN), founded in 2013, is Kingman, Bullhead, and Havasu’s closest hub, always reaching out to Kingman, Bullhead, and Havasu veterans in hopes of giving them this beautiful opportunity.
Honor Flight trips are expense-paid trips dedicated to giving veterans an experience of a lifetime alongside other veterans and a community who welcomes them. During these three-day trips, veterans will fly to Washington D.C. to view the national monuments made for them. At the Southern Nevada hub, more than 565 veterans have been escorted to D.C. for this trip.
After going on the Honor Flight mission, many veterans often leave feeling as though they had a welcoming experience. A Mohave County veteran from Golden Valley, Bob “Roc” Dickerson, attended an Honor Flight trip last April.
He said that if he ever had the courage to visit the wall, he would find his friend among all the names, and would say a goodbye prayer with him.
“The visit to the wall calms a lot of devils. I am thankful I got to make this trip. It has changed… stuff,” he said.
Many decide to become a volunteer themselves for Honor Flight.
Each veteran will have a trained “guardian” or volunteer to help the veteran with any possible needs. If preferred, families of the veterans are allowed to apply to be said veteran’s guardian. Throughout the entire trip, medical professionals will attend on hand. If the veteran has special needs such as the need for wheelchair and scooter accessibilities or other necessities such as oxygen, needs can be met upon premeditated request. Veterans with any terminal illness are prioritized.
Upon departure to D.C and the ride back home, people such as kids and active military give the veterans a farewell when they leave, and a welcome back upon arrival. Many children make posters ahead of time, or stand patiently in a line, waiting for each veteran to shake their hand.
The Honor Flight community doesn’t end after attending the trip. Reunions are held for the Honor Flight groups that attended the occasion together, and many veterans even keep in contact with guardians they met on the trip. Many veterans consider Honor Flight their family.
Another special component of Honor Flight is the relationship that develops between a Veteran and their Guardian. Pearl York had shared her reluctance to be called a Veteran due to not serving in combat. Veteran Frederico Guzman, after several conversations about their military experiences, told York she was just as worthy as any other person who signed up as she was willing to put her life on the line for our country. It is then when he gave her his Vietnam War Veteran pin as a symbol of courage. She wears it proudly on her USO volunteer lanyard.
One instance, in April 2022, on the return trip from D.C., veterans were handed out challenge coins in representation of what they had accomplished that weekend, and as a token of appreciation for what they had once done for their country. One of the guardians attending, Kingman resident Jerry Galland, had attempted to participate in the U.S. Navy when he was younger, but was unfortunately sent home after only about three weeks. They didn’t want any sleep-walkers on the ship, Galland stated. The guardian had also received a challenge coin; that same symbol of appreciation.
Many people who are not guardians at the trip still find their way to pay tribute to veterans with Honor Flight. HFSN has recently begun making coffee, which is available for purchase online. 100% of profits help fund the mission trips. There are also events you can attend in support of American veterans, with a listing on their website.
To apply for Honor Flight as a veteran or guardian, visit honorflightsouthernnevada.org or contact them using their email, administration@honorflightsouthernnevada.org.
Noel Mabile
