When he learned he was being given a free trip to Washington to see the World War II Memorial, World War II veteran Sgt. Millard Blaine called it a “dream come true.”
According to his son, Myron Blaine of Hannibal, his dad had not expected to ever see the World War II Memorial, which was completed five years ago. “Earlier he said he didn’t suppose he would ever see it,” Myron said. “I think it’s a wonderful thing.”
When he first heard about the Honor Flight organization, which was founded to take veterans to Washington to see the memorial, Millard did not know if he felt up to making the trip, Myron said. “But he said, ‘I’ll go,’ and he was one of the last two to sign up for the group that took the one-day trip today, Nov. 10, flying from St. Louis.
Millard lives in Memphis, Mo., from where he rode a bus to St. Louis before flying to Washington on a trip provided by the Central Missouri Honor Flight organization in Columbia. The veterans are accompanied by doctors and other guardians, Myron said.
Myron is proud of his dad, along with his uncles, Carl, Mayhue and Floyd Blaine, who are all military veterans, and his aunt, Capt. Ethel “Sally” Blaine Millett.
The Honor Flight trip is planned to offer veterans an opportunity to visit several places during their six hours in Washington. In addition to the World War II Memorial, they visit the Arlington National Cemetery to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Iwo Jima Memorial, and the Lincoln, Korean and Vietnam memorials, as time permits.
The group provides free bus transportation to the airport, along with the flights and food in Washington. The guardians are volunteers who pay their own way.
Area Honor Flight
chapter organized
The new Great River Honor Flight chapter was founded in the tri-state area about a month ago and is planning to make its first trip in March or April 2010, according to Judge David Mobley of Hannibal, who serves as secretary.
The trip on Tuesday was the final one the chapter from Columbia had planned this year, Mobley said, because “they don’t want to do it with bad weather.”
Describing the national Honor Flight as a wonderful organization that he is glad to be part of, Mobley said, “it will be nice to have it in this area, to honor the veterans in our area.”
Between 30 and 40 World War II veterans are taken on each trip, he said, and “most have not traveled since 9-11.”
Adding, “it makes you feel good” to help the veterans, Mobley said, “it’s a big thing, and to be able to get it done in one day is a good thing.”
Great River Honor Flight is a non-profit organization funded entirely with tax-deductible contributions.
On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, a 30-minute special program about the Great River Honor Flight will be broadcast on WGEM-TV. Questions from the public will be answered, and contributions will be accepted.
Applications for veterans are on the local chapter’s Web site, wgem.com/honorflight.
The address is Great River Honor Flight, 513 Hampshire, Quincy, Ill. 62301.
For more information contact, Carlos Fernandez, president of the board of directors, at (217) 228-6600.
In addition to Fernandez and Mobley, board members are Neil Maune, vice president; Kenneth Treaster, Roy Pasterik, Matt Courtney, Dr. Thomas Klincar, Dr. Ray Staats, Jim Mentesti, Rick Gengenbacher, Susan Till and Ray Boone.
