Honor Flight Chicago-- Part 4: One Vietnam War Veteran's Experience

Bob Misevich, the Vietnam War medic. saw some of the worst of the war. and his memories of e war are vivid.  Being a part of Honor Flight Chicago this past July touched him deeply.  (See Honor Flight Chicago--Part 2 from November 13, 2019.)

 Nothing more than being greeted by five hundred people greeting them on their return from D.C. and there were even children in the crowd and many waving U.S. flags.  On their arrival, they were also greeted by representatives of the armed forces and National Guard and veterans.  Former Senator Bob Dole  is often in Washington, D.C. to greet vets when his health is alright.

All this "changed my life.  It changed the whole process of how you thought about the war," he says.

Going to the Vietnam Wall Memorial also meant a lot to him.  He carried a list of six names from his squad over there.  He didn't know what had happened to them.  Sadly, he found three of their names on the wall.

That wall is indeed a sombering experience, as are the traveling Vietnam Walls.

He is also impressed with the program and its volunteers and encourages all veterans to take part.  "Upon arrival at Midway they immediately put us in wheelchairs and we had a mentor every step of the way.

Honor Flight Chicago-- Part 3: How It Started

Co-founder of the Honor Flight Chicago hub is Mary Pettinatto, who took her step-father to the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. shortly after it opened and encountered  one of te very first Honor Flights.

She was so moved that when she returned to Chicago, she co-founded the Chicago hub with the help of three other women in 2007.   The first flight took off in 2008 and now they have gone to D.C. 95 times.

With the aging of the orld War II veterans, they opened the flight to Korean War veterans in 2016 and this year to Vietnam War veterans.

"For our Vietnam  veterans, who returned home to open animosity and hostility, the day has proven to be one of healing and closure -- a true 'Welcome Home' that is 50 years overdue," says Doug Meffley, co-director of Honor Flight Chicago.

--Cooter

The National Honor Flight Origin

The whole Honor Flight idea originated with Earl Morris, a physician assistant with the Veterans Administration in Springfield, Ohio,  and Jeff Miller from Henderson, North Carolina, the son of a World War II veteran.  They did this in 2004, soon after the World War II Memorial was opened in Washington, D.C..

The first Honor Flight took place in May 2005 and took off from Springfield, Ohio, and flew World War II veterans to the memorial that was built in their honor.

The idea soon spread and hubs were added.  Honor Flight Chicago has become one of the largest hubs.

--Cooter