Honor Flight Northwest Arkansas

Amanda and I headed out to the "Welcome Home" mission for Arkansas Honor Flight 2010.  I had never ben to one of these, and basically was thinking it would be  Ok stand in the flag line and welcome home a bunch of old people from their trip to Washington D.C.
Kinda show up talk to the others, stand the flag line and go home. WOW was I wrong.
          We arrived at the airport to find many of our group already there.  Said our hellos and stood around visiting with our friends.
A member of the Honor Flight Staff came along and visited with us and I was Impressed with her enthusiasm. She was excited about what they were doing for our veterans. Soon I noticed the buses friom Rogers High School, the band had came to Honor America's Heroes. Then i noticed the camo uniforms of the University of Arkansas ROTC. Wow lots of attention for these fine ladies and gentelman.
         As we went into the terminal, I was awestruck at the crown already gathering, groups of Boy Scouts, families with young children with welcome home signs.   Members of the Daughters of the American Revolution passing out small American Flags to the crowd.   Our terminal was crowded  to say the least.  I was impressed with the respect Northwest Arkansas was showing our WWII Veterans.   I ran into people I had met on other missions,  Talked to many people  joking and serious.  I visited with many of the Honor Flight personnell, I learned they they were as dedicated to their "Mission" as we the Patriot Guard Riders are to ours.  They were all very friendly and I learned a lot about Honor Flight. I learned that I really did not know what honor flight was all about.  I was under the impression the this was a Tyson-Walmart publicity gig, they funded the flights and grabbed the attention. Man was I wrong.   This like the PGR was a heartfelt gesture started by one person, a physician assistant and Retired Air Force Captain. Earl Morse. Starting with small planes and private volunteer pilots in 2005 and growing by the grace of coprate donors to what I was seeing before me.

http://www.honorflight.org/about/index.cfm

     As the time grew closer, the ROTC made an honor line down both sides of the down escalator and the crowd stood behind them many people deep. the Band was assembled in the baggage area of the terminal, and we bought our flag lines to behind the ROTC. I walked the asile formed by the crowd to make sure our peopls we ok and mingled with the crowd.  Congressman Boozman, and his lovely wife arrived and were placed in the flag/rotc line which had kinda merged  into one. Honor Flight personnell kept us informed of  the status of the flight, and I visited with members of the crowd, and ROTC. I noticed one small lady and some one was getting her a chair, her husband was on the Honor Flight, and she was excited about him coming home I had them place her chair in the front of the crowd and assured her I would make sure she could see upon the arrival of the flight. And I kept my promiose, her husband was in a wheelchair, and the moment in time when he rolled up to her and they embraced was like he had just came home from the war. such love and devotion on display for the world to see.
      Right after we stood our line I had an elderly lady ask me, "What are you going to do with those flags?"  I explained that we would put them away for later use at another mission, and she gave me a "pouty Look" kidding around with me. she Asked "What school are ya'll from?" I explained that we were the Patriot Guard Riders and what our Mission was  and she was happy to hear of our organization.

       I kept walking the asile checking on the members of the PGR and talking to the crowd doing my PR work for the PGR. I talked to one member of the ROTC that has a year deployment coming up in Afganistan.  I talked to wives and family of the Veterans returning on today's Honor Flight.
       Then it was time, the first of over 80 Veterans appeared at the top of the escalator, and the crowd erupted, the band broke into the Military Medley, and the Guestes of Honor decended into the crowd.  The first gentelman came down waving his small American Flag and saluting over and over  They were recieving a Hero's Welcome and deservedly so.  As I stood and the far end of the asile, they came, I saluted, and shook so many hans.  I had the front row view of all the smiles and happiness we had brought to our greatest generation, Many were overwhelmed, tears rolling down their cheeks, ALL were smiling big and shaking hands and   waving their flags  I must admitt I had a small lump in my throat also.

    After the Activities I went outside whre the Veterans were waiting transportation, and watched the homecomings going on. I was thanked many time for the participation of the PGR.  I noticed Frank Lee taking photos, and he was telling me who many of the veterans were, One that stands out is a gentleman who used to own the Ford dealership in Siloam Springs and other Siloam residents. Then one of the young ladies asked me if I had met Mr. McGinley yet, I said no and she took me to see a gentleman in a wheelchair, wearing an Air Force cap over his Honor Flight Cap. I talked to him and discovered that he was a WII Pilot that was serving in the Belgium area and was shot down, he spent 7 1/2 months living with the Belgian underground and was almost captured by the Natzis 4 times. I learned that  his family had been told he had been killed.  I realized I was in the presence of a true American Hero.  I was hearing history from one that had made it. I had my picture taken with Mr. McGinley, and it is going to be one of my favorite photos in my memories of life in the PGR.  I left that airport with a new perspective, I have always had great respect for the Veterans of America but I  now  have greater respect for them all.

       I alos have a Great respect fot Honor Flight and the members thereof, You are a great group, and deserving of respect.  Your Mission is just like ours in many ways. The show Honor and Respect to Americas Veterans.  I was impresed by you and your group. I salute you.

US Army Vietnam Veteran Billy Gene Hodge.

This morning started with a beautiful sunrise as I was preparing to go Honor a great man.
Billy Gene Hodge Vietnam Veteran US Army 9th Infantry Division. in Siloam Springs Arkansas.

I frist met Bill in late 1998 or early 1999, I was with a group that wwas trying to get a visit of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, "The Moving Wall" to Siloam. I was attendimg a chamber of commerce breakfast to spread the word and ask for help from various organizations around the area. Bill was there to promote the Sager Creek Arts Center. After all the speakers had done their thing and we had had breakfast, Bill approached me and Said " Hi my name is Bill Hodge and I want to help you." Bill and I became great friends. He was the person I came to lean on and go to for advice during the things leading up to and during the Wall visit.

    While preparing for the Wall visit we had formed a Vietnam Vetrans of America chapter in Siloam.After the wall, the chapter slowly fell apart and ultimatly folded. But Bill was there until the end. After that I did not see Bill a lot. Mainly around town and of course at Walmart. lol. In 2008 we decided that I should have a party for my 60th Birthday, Bill and his Wonderful wife Susan. were among the guest. Had a great visit with them, and of course exchanged the we need to get together some time, but our lifestyles were totaly different and sometime never came.

      Tuesday I got word that Bill had been killed in a motorcycle accident. I called Susan, and she had requested the Patriot Guard Riders to stand for Bill. Tuesday afternoon I with Our Ride Captian Terry, and Xray and Radio, ventured to Susans home to discuss details. There I met Bill's wonderful daughter Lori Lynn, her husband Ron, their daughters Alexis and Shelby, and Shelby's fiancee Tim. They were wonderful people, and I am proud to have met them.

     Wed. evening I went to visitation, and it was hard, I was talking with Shelby, and we both were reluctant to go into the chapel. When Lori and her family started to vist the chapel, Shelby looked at me and said "Would you like to go with us?" It was hard to go near the coffin, but I wnt to be there for his familuy. I let God tell me what to do and say, and we all got throught it. I jus pray I was of help to them in their time of need.

     Today we Stood the Mission for Bill, I was a pall-breaer, but we had a beautiful flag line , I stood and talked about Bill and how he had influnced my life. How he had attempted to keep me calm when things got rough. and How I loved Him and How I loved them for accepting me into their time of sorrow and need. It was a true honor to Tell the world I loved Bill he was my friend, He was my Brother!!!

    I have cried many time over the last few days, and I am proud of that fact, I have Lost a great friend, a Brother and I am hurting. But God will guide me through this, He will guide Susan, Lori, Shelby, and Alexis also.

     Please Lord watch over Bill's family and help them in this time of sorrow. Help me to take the thing I loved about Bill and the things he taught me and use this to be a better person. Help me to live life to the fullest, and Share it with others. Hep me to take care of my family the way Bill took care of his. Amen