It took about 60 years to build the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. and now, those who deserve most to see it are getting their opportunity through an organization called Honor Flight.Honor Flight, a volunteer organization that arranges free one-day trips for World War II veterans to the memorial, recently took its first flight from Birmingham to The Mall. Among those taking the inaugural trip was Dewey Powell, a 91-year-old Army veteran from Moody. He was among more than 30 veterans who flew to Washington D.C. to meet with Congressman Spencer Bachus and visit the memorial.
Others from St. Clair County participating in the flight were Richard Higgins of Cook Springs; John Godwin of Cropwell; and Emmett Barber of Pell City.
“This was our inaugural flight for the Birmingham hub,” said Pam Nichols, marketing officer of Noland Health Services.
The first flight, on a commercial plane, was sponsored by Noland Health Services and co-chaired by Nichols and Amy McDonald of Shelby County.
“We’re hoping to eventually get enough donations to get a charter flight that can transport 100 veterans at once.”
Nichols said Honor Flight is sponsored through individual and corporate donations, and it takes about $400 per veteran to make the trip. That covers the plane ticket, the charter bus in Washington D.C., meals and a commemorative t-shirt.
“We’re interested in finding more corporate donors for the program,” Nichols said. “We’re getting lots of individual donations and a couple of schools have started their own fundraising project. There was even a student who bought candy and resold it to his friends and donated the money to sponsor a veteran’s trip.”
Nichols said Honor Flight hopes to make three more trips to visit the memorial this year with one in July, one in September and the last scheduled for the first of November.
Congressman Spencer Bachus spoke to the veterans during their visit.
“The National World War II Memorial is our tribute to you, the brave soldiers who preserved freedom during democracy’s darkest hour,” Bachus said. “Honor Flight has done a great thing by bringing our veterans to Washington to see this magnificent memorial, meet with their fellow veterans, and remind all of us that we enjoy freedom today because of sacrifices made more than six decades ago.”
Nichols said the purpose of Honor Flight Birmingham is to make a way for World War II veterans to see the memorial and honor them in an appropriate way._“This memorial didn’t exit until 60 years after the war,” Nichols said. “It’s theirs and they deserve to see it. For most of these gentlemen who saved the world — and that’s what they did — this will be one of the last great honors of their lives.”
Anyone wishing to contribute to the Honor Flight program can contact Nichols at 205-714-3156.
