Honor Flight NWA.

   The Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization created solely to honor America's veterans for all their sacrifices. We transport our heroes to Washington, D.C. to visit and reflect at their memorials.
Right now they are concentrating on the Veterans of WWII.  I attended my first Honor Flight Welcome Home in September 2010. I was so impressed that I was anxiously looking forward to this event. Honor Flight XNA, had expanded their efforts from a single flight to 2 flights a year. 

     I was asked by NWA Senior Ride Captain Xray, if I would like to R/C this event, and I quickly accepted.  When the day arrived Amanda had to work until 7:00 PM so I headed to XNA alone. I was the first one to arrive and went inside to report to security. I requested and received permission to park 2 support vechiles and the bikes in the delivery parking area.  I made contact with the Honor Flight Ground Crew and  talked about where we would like to put our Flag line (s) . They said they would like to divert the returnees around the corner in to another part of the lobby, and I suggested putting 2 flag line from the down escalator in an arch to where they wanted  the group to go.
    I then went out to get flags, and wait for the others to arrive.  Fred and Curtis arrived and we discussed the plan.  and after briefing we assembled our flag lines. With 25 flags and only about 16 PGR Members present i recruited members of the crowd to fill out the lines.  With everyone in place, the Veterans started trickling down the elevator, and escalator. it was great to see the reunion of folks although they had only been gone a day, they were greeted like they were coming home from the war.
   Little kids with flags and welcome home signs. Boy Scouts, ROTC Cadets.  Wives, Sons & Daughters, and grandchildren.  My friend Jen, had me acting as a cheerleader, waving my hands up to excite the crowd,  As each Veteran or Group of Veterans came down the crowd would burst into applause and cheers. One small boy would try to shake each veterans hand.  I was given a Honor Flight XNA Ground Crew Badge, which made me feel special. After the last Veteran made his decent, he was in his WWII wool uniform, full medals and all, he looked so grand with the bright red welcome home lipstick kisses lipstick on each cheek..  We broke ranks, put away our flags and went our separate ways until we gather again on another mission