Page 53 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2017 - Online Magazine

TRIP of a LIFETIME

submitted by Dionne Merriott
Last September I was privileged to be a

guardian on the South Plains Honor Flight.

see what their mothers experienced a lifetime ago.
For those of us who didn't go with a family member,
it gave us a glimpse of what life was like to be a
member of the military.
After the trip, I created a keepsake photo book
about the experiences we had on the 2016 Honor
Flight, and gave one to each of the honorees. I hope
that this book is a sweet reminder that their service
mattered to their generation and to the generations
to come. If you know a veteran, thank them for the
sacrifices they made for our country. And if you
know one who would enjoy the SPHF, you can get
more information about the 2017 trip on the Honor
Flight website. Consider applying to be a guardian
In case you aren't familiar with this organization, and go with them. It will be an experience that you
they make it possible for veterans to fly to Washington both will treasure.
DC to see the memorials erected in their honor. My
role as a guardian was to make sure the veterans
assigned to me had a good trip and that they were
safe. But my most important job was to listen.
When the soldiers and sailors of the 2016 SPHF saw
their respective memorials, the stories began to spill
out. As we neared the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
stop, I heard one of the veterans say, "I have seven
names I need to find on the wall. They died in my
arms." To the guardians, the trip was about honoring
the veterans, but to the veterans, it seemed more like a
pilgrimage to pay homage to their fellow servicemen
who didn't come home.
Some of the men and women who participated this
year had to have extra encouragement to go. Many
felt as if they weren’t really heroes. Or perhaps
they hadn’t served overseas, so the honor should be
reserved for those who had. I've found that many
veterans are humble about their military service and
need others to encourage them to apply to go on the
Honor Flight. If you know a veteran (maybe a family
member, or someone you know from church, or
through another venue), this is the perfect time to get
them thinking about going in 2017. You can find out
more and print out an application for them at www.
texassouthplainshonorflight.org.
I loved being a part of this trip because it connected
so much with what I do every day. It brought fathers
and sons together to tell stories. It helped daughters

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