Blue Ridge Honor Flight will take flight again on September 28th, 2024. I am excited to be flying with my Rutherford County veterans: Bruce Lancaster, US Army and Jim Ayers, US Army. Also on my team from Rutherford County will be “Gunny” Bill Swope, USMC. His daughter, Vilma Lazo will be his Guardian. Neil Baker, US Army will also join us with his Guardian, Mike Granato, Retired USAF from Summerville, SC.
My veterans for the spring flight on April 27th, 2024, was USAF Veteran, Raymond Jones and US Army Veteran Steve McCurry; both are Vietnam Veterans. It was a privilege and honor being their Guardian and they will forever hold a special place in my heart!
Also on our team was combat Vietnam Veteran, Sgt Major Don Barrett, Ret USMC. Sgt Major was also my children’s former MCJROTC instructor at RS Central High School. His Guardian was his son, 1st Sgt Michael Barrett, Ret USMC. Both Michael and Sgt Major are recipients of The Purple Heart.
Micheal gave his dad a very special surprise while we were in DC. He worked in concert with Jimmy Ensley, one of Sgt Major’s first graduating cadets from the MCJROTC program at RS Central to meet us in DC. Jimmy, also a ret USMC Veteran resides near the DC area, so he was more than willing to meet us in DC to surprise Sgt Major.
The reunion was priceless, and I was honored to have been a part. Every Honor Flight is special and no two are even remotely alike, but this one pulled on my heartstrings as never before. Although I only had two assigned veterans, Raymond and Steve, the six of us spent the day together. I believe having Sgt Maj, Michael, and Jimmy in our group added to the wonderful experience Raymond and Steve had. Since I am not a veteran myself; I cannot ‘add’ to an Honor Flight veteran’s experience the way a veteran can. It was awe-inspiring to watch these five veterans interact and care for one another throughout the day, to listen to their stories; my life is forever changed, and I will be forever grateful to Blue Ridge Honor Flight for affording me the privilege to fly with these wonderful veterans!
