Honor Flight Reunion

Statement

Honor Flight ReunionBy Governor Dave Heineman

Dear Fellow Nebraskans:

On this Memorial Day weekend, a special reunion is taking place in our state. Nebraska veterans who took part in the statewide effort of the Heartland Honor Flights during the past year are gathering in Omaha to mark this observance.

Sixteen million Americans served in World War II. Today, an estimated 3 million veterans of that historic war remain with us. Statewide Honor Flights for Nebraska's World War II veterans started last spring.

While some communities also organized flights for local veterans, like Broken Bow in 2007, the Nebraska Veterans of Foreign Wars office took on the responsibility for organizing seven flights over the course of the past year. These visits helped more than 1,500 Nebraska veterans of World War II experience the National Mall in Washington, D.C. and the memorial built in their honor.

I have had the opportunity to meet many of the veterans taking part in the Honor Flights. One of the most important treasures from these visits is the stories that have been shared by those who served. My father fought in World War II. Like many veterans of that era he didn't talk much about his experiences. These veterans' stories are part of our family histories and they are part of our nation's history.

What the veterans of World War II did for our country and for the world was critical and, perhaps, remarkable. Theirs are the stories of service, sacrifice and courage that should be told to and remembered by younger generations of Americans.

The Heartland Honor Flights were funded entirely by donations by individuals, families and businesses. They were successful because of the many Nebraskans who came forward to volunteer their time to accompany veterans to our nation's capital.

A special thank you is in order for Bill and Evonne Williams of Omaha along with the Nebraska Veterans of Foreign Wars for helping make these flights possible. They believed in this project and they worked very hard to recruit volunteers and sponsors to ensure that each of the 24-hour days went smoothly for each of the Honor Flights.

The program is even more extraordinary if you have had the opportunity to see a flight come together first hand. I met two groups in Washington last fall as they arrived at the World War II Memorial. They thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to be there with more than 200 other Nebraska veterans, exploring the memorial grounds and often meeting U.S. Senator and World War II veteran Bob Dole.

As a military family, Bill and Evonne were well-equipped to supervise this effort and I commend him and all of those who were part of the Heartland Honor Flight team, as well as local efforts. They made the Nebraska flights a role model for others across our country.

As we observe Memorial Day weekend, I look forward to declaring "World War II Veterans Day'' in honor of the veterans who served our country, and the many volunteers and contributors to the Heartland Honor Flight program for providing our veterans with the trip of a lifetime.

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