We hope you all enjoyed the Independence Day holiday. We conducted a wonderful Spring 2022 flight season and are preparing for an expanded Fall 2022 flight plan. In our continuing effort to keep our many supporters up to date on Honor Flight Columbus plans and activities, this is the second of our 2022 quarterly newsletters that will be sent to our veterans and their families, guardians, volunteers, donors and our many other supporters. We will also be posting these newsletters on our website (www.honorflightcmh.org). If you wish to be removed from our newsletter list please let us know by sending an email to info@honorflightcmh.org.
June 9 HFC Flight Veterans and Guardians at the WWII Memorial
Spring Flight Season
In the Spring of this year we conducted the following flights to Washington, D.C.: April 14 – Mission 113; Sponsored by Grateful Americans; 75 Veterans May 12 – Mission 114; Sponsored by Equitable Mortgage and Grateful Americans; 82 Veterans June 9 – Mission 115; Sponsored by Dublin Community; 80 Veterans Fall Flight Season The following flights are scheduled for the Fall of 2022: September 8 – Mission 116; Sponsored by The David Jarvis Memorial Fund October 6 – Mission 117; Sponsored by Abbott Laboratories November 3 – Mission 118; Sponsored by Battelle November 10 – Mission 119: Sponsored by Nationwide
We have booked veterans for the September flight and will begin making calls to veterans in mid-August to book the remaining flights. At the time of this Newsletter we have 598 veterans on our waiting list. We anticipate having 90 veterans booked for each of the flights in the fall of 2022. As always, World War II, Korean War and qualified veterans with a terminal illness will be moved to the front of the line for the earliest flight for which they are ready, willing and able. Veteran applications and details regarding veteran eligibility are available on our website and/or by emailing veterans@honorflightcmh.org.
June 9 High School Guardians with World War II Veteran, Johnie Colbert
High School Guardian Program As part of our June flight this year we utilized seven local high school students as guardians. These students represented Olentangy Liberty, Gahanna Lincoln, St. Charles, Upper Arlington, Dublin Coffman and Dublin Scioto High Schools. This high school engagement program was exceptionally popular with both the veterans and the students and we have decided to continue this activity as part of our future flights. Any high school interested in participating in this program should contact us at info@honorflightcmh.org. In order to qualify for the program, a school must have an introductory event for students (e.g. a presentation by HFC staff and/or veterans to explain HFC and its mission). All students must be nominated by their respective school and must meet all HFC guardian requirements. Any high school students accepted into this program will fly at no cost. Any school is limited to two students. Please address any questions through the email address noted above.
Left to right: Bob Morris, Lester McClurg, Bob Smykal and Stanley Maybruck
WWII Veteran Letter Campaign
In 2022 HFC launched a new initiative to identify as many World War II veterans in Ohio as possible. To that end, Judy McClelland continues to lead a letter solicitation project through which we are in contact with most of the VFW and American Legion Posts in the state of Ohio. The next phase will include letter solicitations to nursing homes and assisted living facilities across the state. Bob Horner will also be scheduling in-person appearances at those same facilities in Central Ohio. The effort is paying off as we have flown six World War II veterans in our first three trips. Please let us know by phone (614-284-4987) or email (info@honorflightcmh.org) if you know of a World War II veteran who is interested in flying with us. We will then immediately contact the veteran to make arrangements for him/her to fly with us as soon as they are willing.
2021 flight participants enjoy the camaraderie at Motts Military Museum
Reunion
The Reunion for the 2021 Flight Season was held on Sunday, June 26, 2022, at Motts Military Museum. All individuals who participated in the 2021 flight season (Missions 103-112) were invited (1,197 veterans and their guests; 500 guardians, 50 volunteers, HFC staff and all flight sponsors). This reunion’s invitation list was limited to only the most recent flying season due to logistical limitations that did not allow us to serve all of the previous veterans (8,267) who have flown with Honor Flight Columbus. Pictures of the Reunion are posted in the gallery on our website: REUNION PHOTOS
Future Reunions will include the immediate past two flying seasons (for the reasons noted above). That is, in June of 2023, our reunion invitees will include all those veterans, guardians, volunteers and sponsors involved in 2022 and Spring 2023 flights.
Karen Melroy-Oiler and her husband, David, with Fall 2021 veterans
Director of Volunteer Operations
On June 15, 2022, HFC welcomed Karen Melroy-Oiler as our new Director of Volunteer Operations. Karen and her husband, David, are long-time HFC volunteers. Karen will be sending a communication in early August regarding volunteer opportunities. She will also outline the new application and training process for anyone who wishes to serve as a volunteer for HFC.
We look forward to seeing our veterans, guardians and volunteers this Fall. In the meantime, best wishes for a restful summer.
Sincerely,
Your Honor Flight Columbus Staff
Bob Horner, Executive Director
Beth Johnson, Director, Office Management & Guardian Operations
Megan Jacob, Director, Veterans Operations
Karen Melroy-Oiler, Director, Volunteer Operations
