By Kevin N., Express Employment International Employee
Smiles, hugs, warm family embraces, salutes, “welcome home” signs, and many tears.
On Oct. 1, 64 veterans from the Korean War and Vietnam War participated in an Oklahoma Warriors Honor Flight journey from Tulsa, OK, to Washington, D.C. Each veteran was paired with volunteer Guardians, including myself and two colleagues, Jessica G. and Shelley H. from Express Employment International. The group was comprised of coordinators, medics, a chaplain, and had 45 wheelchairs in tow. Here’s my experience as a volunteer Guardian.
I had the honor of serving as Allen Engel’s Guardian. He served in the Arkansas National Guard from 1966 to 1994, including overseas duty during Operation Desert Storm. He’s interested in military history and had planned a trip to Toccoa, GA, right after our return from the Warriors Honor Flight. Camp Toccoa was the WWII paratrooper training site featured in HBO’s “Band of Brothers.”
Also, I had the pleasure of meeting Debra Culver, an LPN and CMA, who was there to support her stepfather Floyd Brown, a Vietnam vet with two Purple Hearts and three Bronze Stars. Throughout our tour, she wheeled him around and snapped photos whenever possible.
Earlier this year at my father’s funeral, I encountered Jim Fentriss, a high school classmate of my father. I reunited with Jim at Arlington Cemetery, and he remarked, “I made his day.” In truth, it was quite the opposite.
Jim is a veteran of the Korean War, having served in both the Army and Marines. His genuine smile reflected his sincere appreciation for everything we experienced together.
Warm Return Home
A band and hundreds of flag-waving supporters cheered as the veterans and Guardians departed Tulsa. A police escort accompanied the tour buses through Washington, D.C., and upon the Honor Flight’s return to Oklahoma, around 500 people gave them an enthusiastic welcome. As the band played, flags, decorations, and a crowd lined the entire route from the airplane gate to the street. For many, this was a long-overdue welcome home.
Get involved!
This Honor Flight was made possible by the Oklahoma Warriors, a group dedicated to providing veterans a free trip to Washington, D.C., to visit memorials honoring their service.
It took $175,000 in donations for the Oklahoma Warriors to send our Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. Learn more and see how you can be a part of a future Honor Flight at OklahomaWarriors.org.
About Express Employment International
At Express Employment International, we’re in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Our international network of franchises offers localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve across the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, employing 492,000 people globally in 2023 and more than 11 million since its inception. For more information, visit ExpressPros.com.
Last Updated on November 7, 2024
