Page 28 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2017- Online Magazine

caring for service members coming from the combat
field. In that year I saw the horrors of what war does to
a human, physically and mentally. After coming home,
I went back to my civilian job providing medical care in
a mainly older population. I was privileged to care for
several veterans, listening to their stories and getting to
know them.

“The first year for the
honor flight out of
Lubbock I watched
the news every
night. I told my
husband I wanted
to help. I sent in my live-in caregiver until Wilma moved to a facility. When
application and was Wilma received confirmation that she was going on the
selected to go the Honor Flight, she immediately called Betty, who readily
next year. I didn’t accepted the honor. Betty was born in Baird, TX and had
know what to expect been a nurse for 33 years at Methodist Hospital in the
but was so excited Mother/Baby Unit and Pediatrics. Both ladies stated
to be able to go as their favorite memorial to visit was the sculpture of three
a guardian for two military nurses by local artist, Glenna Goodacre.
amazing gentlemen. As told to Katherine McLamore
My guys didn’t need a lot of physical help, mostly just
some oversight. That allowed me to get to know most “Would you be my Guardian?... IF I’m selected to go
of the guys on my bus. I heard stories that made my on the Honor Flight?” asked my 82-year-old US Naval
heart swell with pride and respect, and I heard stories veteran father. I looked at him in disbelief. His health was
that broke my heart. When I came home the complete failing, and he knew that I could not financially afford
joy and pride I witnessed in these completely deserving such an expensive trip. My dad, Gordon Hambright, was
Veterans was like nothing I have ever seen in my life. on hospice care with numerous conditions, not the least
They walked with their heads held high and a bounce of which was interstitial lung disease. He was 24-hour
that had probably not been in their steps in many years. oxygen-dependent and permanently wheelchair-bound.
Going as a guardian on the Honor Flight is one of my Not wanting to disappoint him, I told him if his doctor
favorite memories. It was an experience like nothing I approved the trip then I would
have ever had and I am so blessed to still be associated be honored to be his Guardian.
with this amazing organization.” In the back of my mind, I was
Kim Billingsley fairly certain that this trip
Guardian & Texas South Plains Honor Flight Committee would never happen.

Betty Norman happily agreed to go on the Honor “Just as I thought, his hospice
Flight with her dear friend Wilma Coon, a WWII Navy doctor strongly discouraged
Nurse, in 2014. The two first met at church and after lengthy air travel. Somehow,
Wilma had a heart attack Betty became her full-time, that just made Dad more
bound and determined to
28 Lubbock Senior Link