You have already read Remington’s story of the sendoff from Fenton History Center parking lot of local veterans taking part in the Buffalo-Niagara Honor Flight (BNHF) hub’s first ever all-women veteran Honor Flight. These ladies never dreamed they would be able to take part in a flight just for women veterans, this flight being exclusive to service prior to and during the Vietnam War. Two of the travel buddies were veterans as well, so it was very interesting hearing the stories as they compared rules and regulations between their services.
We were all apprehensive about what effect the government shutdown might have and whether or not the flight would even be able to take place. We were assured that everything was still on when I accompanied our veterans to Buffalo for the meet and greet the Saturday before the flight was scheduled to leave for Washington. We’d be lying if we said our full trust was behind the possibility of actually getting there and having access to all of what Honor Flight is known for. They received pink shirts and pink merchandise at the breakfast meeting, along with a book called “The Women” written by Kristin Hannah! On the way home, I could see their spirits were more hopeful that this trip really could happen.
I was not planning to be with them on this trip, as none of our local veterans needed a travel buddy, but happily agreed when I got the call from Buffalo asking if I could be available to fill in as a travel buddy for a not-so-local Veteran. You Betcha! Not only could I accompany someone, but I could keep tabs on these new Veteran friends and witness the sights and sounds through their eyes and hear their stories.
We were so pleasantly surprised and grateful for the huge blessing of such a memorable trip with so many amazingly special parts for BNHF’s first-ever All Women Veterans Flight!
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is always a very solemn and beloved part of the memorials, but this flight was very surprised to get to know Sgt. Kaylee Johnston. She joined the Honor Flight dinner at the Hotel on Saturday night and afterward she spoke about her experiences of being one of only four female of the Unknown Soldier Sentinels to earn her badge. She was also the Sentinel who lead four of the Honor Flight Vets in the wreath laying ceremony.
One of them was our very own Donna LaMonica-Sample who volunteers for us in the Research Center. I’m going to twist her arm and get her to tell her story in a future Walnut Grove Press article.
The group also spent more time in the Women’s Memorial Museum than usual, where lunch was served and the new Director personally met them and made plans to acquire their service memories and photos. And, who knew there was a large gift shop in there?!?
We had been seeing weather predictions for days before the flight and we were prepared that at least Sunday would be all rain. Miraculously, the two-day flight activities must have had a huge umbrella over them! No rain appeared until we arrived at the Baltimore airport to return to Buffalo and we were already under cover anyway!
Such an amazing trip for these ladies who seldom ever get veteran recognition!
Thank You Ladies! Your service saved many lives! We salute you!
