This summer and fall I have had one of the most profound and moving experiences of my life, that of taking part in the To Honor. To Cure. program. The unique and salient feature of the Honor Flight effort is that it is totally focused on people and not things. And though the veterans themselves — the honorees of the flights — indeed have a grand time, it is the others taking part: the guardians, the greeters at the airports, the volunteers, and even the other passengers, who have the greater experience. For we are the ones with the extreme privilege of spending time, if only of a fleeting nature, with a special group of men and women: our World War II veterans. Their era is winding down, and they are passing from among us now at an ever accelerating rate, and soon will be but a memory, but their selfless deeds and accomplishments will live in the American psyche for generations to come.

I am grateful to have had this opportunity, and I am grateful to Theragenics for their generous support in making these flights possible.

All the best,

ERIC HANEY

Saturday, October 3: I attended the Jackson Heights Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C., Oct. 3 – 4. Most of the Veterans were from Kansas, specifically the cities of Topeka and Holton. Our group also included students from Jackson Heights High School that acted as guardians to the Veterans. Each student was responsible for aiding and supporting two vets. Some of these men needed help walking, some needed wheelchair support. I was asked to accompany the group to provide medical/nursing support.

Just being able to meet these fine gentlemen was an inspiration.

The veteran I sat next to on the plane to Washington had never been on a commercial flight. He had spent time in the Phillipines during WWII, getting there by boat.I enjoyed hearing about how he joined the army when he was 20, thinking he could save a lot of money. The army had created a financial incentive to recruit soldiers. A year later, he found himself in harms way, as the war broke out.

Hearing some of the other vets talk about their experience was very humbling.

So very, very many men and women sacrificed so much during this war. Some of these men probably have not verbalized much about it. This trip not only enabled them to see the beautiful memorial, it also provided a means for them to share their experiences with each other…one vet to another.

Centered by the “Kansas” pillar at the WWII Memorial, the vets posed for a group photo, displaying the American flag. The students lead our group in singing the national anthem. All of the spectators at the memorial stopped to join in the song. Many applauded the vets, some showed tears.

The welcome crew at the airports when our group both arrived and left D.C. was great. I am happy these fine men received such recognition for their duty to our country.

I feel very fortunate to have attended this honorable event.

With great appreciation to all involved,

Denise Wittkopp, RN
Research Medical Center
Kansas City, MO

Since the first Theragenics-sponsored Honor Flight departed from Charlotte in April, the media has been following our trips with the veterans. Click on the links below to read some articles about the heroes we’ve met along the way and the purpose behind To Honor. To Cure.

Military Times

American Legion Magazine

Leatherneck Magazine

Tampa Tribune

Department of Defense News

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Gwinnett Daily Post

Saturday, September 12: It was very early in the morning–and it was raining. I had signed on to accompany a plane full of South Florida World War II Veterans on a one day, up-and-back, trip to visit “their” memorial in Washington, DC. And to top it off, it was my birthday. Was I crazy? Was this any way to celebrate my special day? You bet it was – this was an Honor Flight, and it was to be a most incredible day.

I am the development director for a non-profit prostate cancer foundation, affiliated with the world-renowned Dattoli Cancer Center & Brachytherapy Research Institute in Sarasota, Fl. As September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month Theragenics Corporation told Dr. Michael Dattoli about the upcoming flight the Company sponsored and asked if he would like to serve as a medical guardian. Due to a conflict, he regrettably had to withdraw. The group was now short one “guardian.” I stepped in and volunteered.

Having worked with prostate cancer patients for nearly 10 years, I am very familiar with this older population. I know that these men can be a handful at times, but they also can amaze and inspire you. Throughout this long and sometimes challenging day, I did not hear one complaint or negative thought from this group … 70-some-odd guys (and 2 women Marine veterans), the youngest of whom could only be in his or her late 70s! And about a third of these were wheelchair bound. Some were on oxygen, some walked with canes. All were excited and anxious to make the most of this once in a lifetime trip.

Can you imagine the coordination and effort it takes to load a group like this onto buses? And then to take them off the buses and escort them through a major airport (Tampa International), including the full TSA-required screening? Wheelchairs, canes, walkers, hip replacements, knee implants, pacemakers, braces, hearing aids … nearly every man had at least one! The screeners earned their pay that day.

Finally we were in the air, leaving rainy Florida behind and heading towards an experience that would be different for each person traveling on Southwest Airline flight 1717 that day. I sat with a charming 83 year old who had a brass trumpet tie-tack attached to his cap. I asked if he had been a bugler and his rapid-fire response was, “I still am!” Lickety-split he produced a battered old trumpet from his bag to prove it. His plan was play his horn once again, as a proud soldier at the Memorial as his personal contribution to winning that defining war so long ago.

Arriving at the airport our contingent was welcomed by a sea of faces – active duty military in uniform from all services and everyday citizens who had come out to express their appreciation for the service of these veterans. There were flags everywhere, posters and cheers as each veteran appeared from the jetway. This outpouring of affection for the veterans set the tone for the rest of the day. Most of our passengers

Fast forward to our arrival at the World War II Memorial – thankfully it was not raining (but Honor Flight had equipped each participant with a disposable poncho just in case), nor was it blazing hot. In fact it was a perfect day for taking pictures. It seemed that everyone had a camera of some description. One of my favorite experiences was taking many veterans’ pictures with their camera, so they could document the experience for family and friends back home. A surprising number of vets had family or friends in the DC area who came to meet them at the Memorial – a nice reunion of sorts.

The Memorial itself is a marvelous design. I visited it three years ago and remembered much about it; but seeing it again with this group of generally unsung heroes was something different and difficult to describe. These were the men and women for whom the Memorial was built. One has to ask why it took so long to acknowledge them (the Memorial was completed and dedicated in 2004)?

Photos taken and memories shared, we loaded up again and motored across the Potomac to Arlington National Cemetery, arriving in time to observe the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. A memorial wreath from this Honor Flight group was placed on the tomb and solemn taps was played before the reverent crowd. Those who could stand, did so at the playing of this centuries old traditional military salute. Next, we drove by the Iwo Jima Memorial. Nearly everyone had seen pictures of this iconic image, but throughout the bus came surprised comments about its immense size. Few seemed to be prepared for the 38-foot tall figures.

There were many hugs and some tears when the buses for home were loaded back in Tampa. We were all tired but it would be a long time before sleep would come. So many images clicked through my mind, like an old slide show. Faces of men who had seen the enemy and had fought on, and had seen their comrades fall. Behind their old eyes were stored untold memories of things and places they had seen but could not speak of, even a half a century past and half a world away. Clarence Martin had sounded his trumpet once more; John Henry Thomas had gotten his photo taken at the Memorial; a proud Iwo Jima survivor had stood ramrod straight and proud in his Marine dress uniform as handsome as any man ever was; and countless others experienced their private memories and this unique moment in time.

For me, I was treated to what must surely be the most meaningful birthday gift of my life: precious time with members of the Greatest Generation who sadly don’t have much left.

My sincerest appreciation to the Honor Flight organization and to Theragenics Corporation for making something so wonderful possible for those who are so deserving.

Virginia ‘Ginya’ Carnahan, APR, CPRC
Director of Marketing & Development
Dattoli Cancer Center & Foundation

Saturday, June 20: On June 20, I had the great fortune to make an Honor Flight with a group of 29 WWII veterans and their guardians from Long Island, New York. Everyone arrived early for the trip, but we were a bit worried about the weather. I don’t know if you follow golf or not, but that was the week of the Nationals, played on Long Island, and it had been raining relentlessly. The clouds cleared for us on departure from New York, but a storm awaited us on arrival in Baltimore. I’m not talking about a rainstorm — even though we had one of those too — but rather a rousing storm of cheers and applause for the veterans as they made their way from the plane and into the arrival concourse.

The passengers awaiting their flights spontaneously arose and formed a corridor of welcome — clapping, waving and shaking the hands of the veterans as they passed through. I saw tears of pride and patriotism streaming down more than one cheek as the outbound travelers greeted those wonderful men.

Unfortunately, there also was a rainstorm waiting for us outside, and it stayed with us as we made our way by bus into Washington, D.C. The organizer and head wrangler for the trip, Chris Cosich was considering Plan B in case the weather continued to oppose the itinerary, but when we stopped for lunch the clouds gave way to glorious sunshine and we continued on our way to the World War II Memorial.

I had attached myself earlier that morning to my new friend, Joseph Chiusa, and we were partners for the day. Joseph was in the Marines during the war. Originally from Brooklyn, he moved to Long Island in the ‘60s and was employed until retirement with the local school district. These days Joe spends his days visiting with friends at the local Senior Citizens Center where he particularly enjoys playing gin with a group of his comrades.

There was a large percentage of Marines in this group, so as you can imagine, the visit to the Iwo Jima Monument was a great hit. But not to be left out — we also made a stop at the Navy Memorial in downtown D.C. for the many sailors in the contingent.

Time was pressing, and from there it was off to the airport with a stop for dinner, before boarding the plane for the return flight.

This was the last of our Honor Flights until September. If you’ve ever been to D.C. in the summer you know that given the age of our veterans it’s just a little too rough to make the trip again until the temperature cools down some.

I also want to let you know that without the generous financial support of Theragenics, this last flight would not have been possible.

ERIC L. HANEY

Friday, May 15 - Sunday, May 17: Our flight with the group from Denver was a bit different from the rest we’ve taken. We spent the weekend in the DC-area instead of just one day. We took 40 vets to their Memorial that weekend. Like the other trips, the vets were greeted with enthusiasm and appreciation by everyone we came across. While all of the thank you’s were appreciated, the one that came from a young man staying at our hotel carried a little more meaning.

This man had recently come home from his second tour of duty in Iraq and was getting ready to leave for Germany to continue his service in the Air Force. He had come down to the lobby for a drink and a snack, and saw some of the vets mingling. He approached James Ellsworth and asked if he was a World War II vet. When James answered yes, the young man told him about his service in Iraq.

Without hesitation James sprung to his feet to shake the man’s hand. “We need more people like you,” James told him.

“Well, sir, to be honest, we need more people like you. See those of us in Iraq look up to all of the World War II Vets. We’re just trying to follow in your footsteps, but you set the bar so high.”

Then, the younger veteran reached into his pocket. “I’ve been carrying something around with me for a long time,” he said. “I served 29 combat missions during my time over there. I kept this with me during each mission.”

He pulled an American flag from his pocket that was folded into a small triangle. “I’ve been looking to give this to someone, but I want to make sure it means as much to them as it does to me,” he said. “I’d like for you to have it, sir.” He handed the flag over to James, who was rendered nearly speechless.

With heartfelt thanks, James told the young man that he planned to put the flag on his Eagle Wall at home, which is a shelving unit that showcases memorabilia from his service in the Army during World War II. He already had a special place in mind for the flag.

It was truly remarkable to witness this exchange between two men, both veterans, from very different generations. It was also a proud moment because Theragenics helped make it possible for these two men to meet.

We hope sharing this story serves as a reminder to thank all veterans for the sacrifices they have made to keep us safe and free.

For our Honor Flight Fayette trip out of Atlanta, we had a special guest join us. Dr. Jack Griffeth served as a medical guardian and had such a great time that we asked him to write a guest blog posting about the day. Enjoy his recap of the memorable time he spent with this group of veterans.

Monday, May 4: How often in a lifetime does the opportunity come to spend time with those who were an intimate part in historical events? What about spending a day with men who were active participants in the effort which changed the course of history by defeating tyranny and preserving freedom to millions?

The Honor Flight on May 4 out of Atlanta, which I participated in as a guardian, was such an opportunity. I, along with the other volunteer guardians, accompanied 70 World War II veterans to visit the WWII Memorial to pay homage to their fellow heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country. It was a trip for expression of gratitude to the 70 veterans we escorted. The veterans travel without expenses, made possible because of generous and appreciative donors to this worthy cause, to facilitate the visit of the surviving WWII veterans to the Memorial. Their numbers are shrinking fast.

I saw the genuine expression of gratitude by the countless volunteers who showed up at the church before 5 a.m. to serve breakfast to the veterans. How tall those veterans stood as they saluted the flag at the opening ceremony! All along the trip I saw the gratitude expressed by the other guardians, the Patriot Guard Riders, the students, the police officers, the other veterans and by the wonderful AirTran staff at the Atlanta and Reagan National airports. We were met by cheering throngs of people… by other travelers, active soldiers, school children, business men and women of all ages. I heard, “Thank you for your service”, time and time again. The veterans seemed surprised and sincerely gracious of the recognition and attention. All I could do was smile and nod and keep pushing my veteran through the crowd in the wheelchair. The lump in my throat wouldn’t have allowed a comment if I’d had one.

The trip allowed me conversation time with men and women who became remarkable heroes by their response to duty. They were barely more than boys at the time, the age of my own. I conversed with men who stormed the beaches of Normandy, survived the bombing of Pearl Harbor, fought in the Battle of the Bulge, leaped from the sinking Yorktown, saw the flag raised on Iwo Jima, liberated the prisoners from Japanese and German prisons, as prisoners themselves played tricks on Nazi prison guards, took on shrapnel and continued to fight. There were 70 unique experiences to hear about!

For most, the war was their first time away from home. Most of them saw friends killed in the war. They all were proud of their service and they have a genuine love for their country. I was mesmerized by the accounts of what they saw and how they responded to their challenges. The history books and movies were brought to life by the accounts of these veterans who made the history. Some of the vivid stories they told through tears, some with emotions muted and many with enthusiasm and excitement.

As we encountered the groups of school children who met us to provide wheelchair assistance and to cheer, I became like a kid myself! I went up to several groups of kids exclaiming, “Remember reading about Pearl Harbor? This guy was at the airfield during the attack!” “This guy was on the Yorktown when it was torpedoed and sank!” “Remember reading about D-Day?!? This guy was on Omaha beach.” “This guy was on a boat that bombed Iwo Jima and saw the famous flag raised.” “These old guys you are pushing in wheelchairs saved the world!!” The wide eyed kids seemed to really get it.

I got it. These “old guys” happened along at a time when greatness in men was required to preserve what truly needed to be preserved, freedom, through their service to their country. My father was a WWII veteran who served in the Pacific theater. He passed away before ever visiting the Memorial. Surrounded by men engaged in that same War effort I felt a strengthening of my respect and understanding of him. I was humbled to be in the company of these veterans and I will never forget my day spent with them or take for granted what they accomplished.

“Thank you for your service. You saved the world!”

Sincerely,
Jack Griffeth, M.D.
Northeast Georgia Medical Center

Saturday, April 25: This past Saturday, we took a group of about 35 veterans from the Columbus, Ohio area to visit the Memorial. We got an early start, but several veterans shared with me that the excitement of the day kept them from sleeping the night before. Bill and Bobbi Richards were our “wranglers” for the event, and all participants agreed they did a phenomenal job in putting together and shepherding a first-rate outing.

I had the great pleasure of being partnered for the day with my new friend Bill Gibson. Bill is a veteran of the Second Marine Division, and more than that, he is a delightful man, whose company and conversation made the day a constant joy. I also was able to spend time with veteran Ed Jones of Zanesville, Ohio. Ed was an Infantryman with the Army’s 77th Infantry Division. He fought in the Philippines and on Okinawa, and is the recipient of several awards for valor. Of great note is the fact that our flight from Columbus on Saturday morning was the first time Ed was ever in an airplane. Bill and I sat Ed between us for the flight as we were both slightly concerned with how Ed may react to the new experience of flight. But all was well, Ed cast an occasional glance out the window while regaling Bill and I with non-stop conversation.

The day itself could not have been more perfect, with highlights of the day being the tour of the World War II Memorial and a visit to Arlington Cemetery where we witnessed the changing of the guard at the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier. Everywhere we went the veterans were greeted with applause and good cheer, and I believe the citizens we encounter enjoy seeing and speaking with “their veterans” as much as the veterans enjoy the outing.

Bill and I are now email buddies and I look forward to further comradery with both he, and my other new friends in Columbus, Ohio.

Many of the veterans asked who they could thank for making their trip possible. Even though the purpose of this trip was to thank and honor them, these men wanted to make sure they could express their gratitude, as well.

ERIC HANEY

Saturday, April 18: I had the great pleasure of making an Honor Flight trip to our nation’s capitol with a group of World War II veterans from Charlotte, North Carolina. The entire day was a continual celebration of and for these wonderful men and women. They were greeted with enthusiasm at every stage of the trip. The weather was fantastic for the outing to the World War II memorial and the other sites we visited.

One of the highlights of the day was meeting and spending time with former senator and WWII veteran, Bob Dole, who was on hand at the WWII memorial to greet all veterans and their families. The end of a long day found us, upon return to Charlotte, a tired but happy group. The day could not have been more perfect.

ERIC HANEY