WOLFEBORO – A group of seven World War II veterans from New Hampshire, whose experiences range from attacking the Nazis in the mountains of Italy to delivering supplies in the Pacific, say that they will always cherish the memories they made during their more recent adventure with Honor Flight New England, which flew them to war memorials in Washington D.C. and back in about 24 hours.
The men, who hail from the lakes region, shared their experiences at a recent forum at the Wright Museum in Wolfeboro. Honor Flight New England is an independent IRS-approved 501 C 3 non-profit that joined the national Honor Flight Network in 2009. Honor Flight is donation-funded and flies veterans to their war memorials in Washington D.C. at no cost to the veterans.
Joe Byron, Honor Flight New England's founder, said the organization has flown about 1,134 veterans to date.
"It's extremely humbling," said Byron. "We hear that there's three top things in their life, getting married, having children and their Honor Flight. If they didn't get home right away, they didn't get recognition and they are still surprised that America still remembers."
Byron, of Manchester, came up with the idea of starting a New England chapter through his experience as a law man. During his career, his charge was to investigate crimes against seniors and he met a World War II veteran who struggled with surveyors' guilt because his friend died on his machine gun. Then in April of 2009, Byron was at an airport in Baltimore and saw an Honor Flight. Byron was inspired to call the national office to see if they had a chapter for this area.
"They said, 'no' and asked me which state," said Byron. "I said, 'If you don't have any, we'll take New England.'"
Applications are date-stamped as they come in and Honor Flight makes selections based on the order the applications are received. The organization's priority is World War II veterans but applications from Korean War veterans and terminally ill veterans will be considered. The Wright Museum helps spread the word about Honor Flight and assists Byron with the application process.
The Honor Flight experience lasts about 24 hours. It begins in the morning, like 2 a.m. early, and it ends early the next morning. But along the way the veterans are treated as heroes. Honorees are greeted with well wishers, bands and even police and motorcycle escorts. The veterans are accompanied by guardians — whether they are friends, family or volunteers. Every effort is made to keep them safe, said Byron. Honor Flights also have nurses and emergency responders who come along. Veterans up to 101 years old have participated.
During the forum at the Wright Museum, the veterans told stories about service and their Honor Flight.
Veteran Warren Pond, a Merchant Marine who spent much of his service in the North Atlantic, said he doesn't recommend the North Atlantic as a place to go especially winter time. However, Pond said he wasn't at the forum to get into that. Instead, Pond wished to thank Byron and the other Honor Flight organizers. He said it must have been "a nightmare" to manage the logistics involved with managing so many people.Â
"When we rolled into Logan the sidewalk was lined with people with flags cheering and waving, there was an honor guard there, the police are at attention there, the firemen in the uniforms were lining the curb, they had a color guard, they had a bagpiper," said Pond. "I'll tell you it's just overwhelming. It was for me at least."
Pond never expected that kind of reception and thought it was "marvelous."
"I thought we all went to war, that's what you did and you came home that's all she wrote," said Pond. "This is a reminder that a lot of people remember what we did and think it was a great thing. I guess I never realized how people appreciated it."
Pond thought the memorials were also impressive. Pond recommends that anyone with the opportunity to go on a flight should take it.
Dick Calvert flew with the Honor Flight in 2009. In 1945, he was a member of the 10th Mountain Division who fought the Germans on Riva Ridge in Italy's Apennine Mountains. His unit took heavy casualties.
"The Germans had their guns pointing down and out and we came in back door and completely took them by surprise," said Calvert.
Local ski enthusiasts might know Calvert from his participation in Hannes Schneider Meister Cup races. Calvert, the last of his generation of 10th Mountain Division veterans to participate in the race, finished first in the 90-and-over age class last winter.
Joe Byron, Honor Flight New England's founder, said the organization has flown about 1,134 veterans to date.
"It's extremely humbling," said Byron. "We hear that there's three top things in their life, getting married, having children and their Honor Flight. If they didn't get home right away, they didn't get recognition and they are still surprised that America still remembers."
Byron, of Manchester, came up with the idea of starting a New England chapter through his experience as a law man. During his career, his charge was to investigate crimes against seniors and he met a World War II veteran who struggled with surveyors' guilt because his friend died on his machine gun. Then in April of 2009, Byron was at an airport in Baltimore and saw an Honor Flight. Byron was inspired to call the national office to see if they had a chapter for this area.
"They said, 'no' and asked me which state," said Byron. "I said, 'If you don't have any, we'll take New England.'"
Applications are date-stamped as they come in and Honor Flight makes selections based on the order the applications are received. The organization's priority is World War II veterans but applications from Korean War veterans and terminally ill veterans will be considered. The Wright Museum helps spread the word about Honor Flight and assists Byron with the application process.
The Honor Flight experience lasts about 24 hours. It begins in the morning, like 2 a.m. early, and it ends early the next morning. But along the way the veterans are treated as heroes. Honorees are greeted with well wishers, bands and even police and motorcycle escorts. The veterans are accompanied by guardians — whether they are friends, family or volunteers. Every effort is made to keep them safe, said Byron. Honor Flights also have nurses and emergency responders who come along. Veterans up to 101 years old have participated.
During the forum at the Wright Museum, the veterans told stories about service and their Honor Flight.
Veteran Warren Pond, a Merchant Marine who spent much of his service in the North Atlantic, said he doesn't recommend the North Atlantic as a place to go especially winter time. However, Pond said he wasn't at the forum to get into that. Instead, Pond wished to thank Byron and the other Honor Flight organizers. He said it must have been "a nightmare" to manage the logistics involved with managing so many people.Â
"When we rolled into Logan the sidewalk was lined with people with flags cheering and waving, there was an honor guard there, the police are at attention there, the firemen in the uniforms were lining the curb, they had a color guard, they had a bagpiper," said Pond. "I'll tell you it's just overwhelming. It was for me at least."
Pond never expected that kind of reception and thought it was "marvelous."
"I thought we all went to war, that's what you did and you came home that's all she wrote," said Pond. "This is a reminder that a lot of people remember what we did and think it was a great thing. I guess I never realized how people appreciated it."
Pond thought the memorials were also impressive. Pond recommends that anyone with the opportunity to go on a flight should take it.
Dick Calvert flew with the Honor Flight in 2009. In 1945, he was a member of the 10th Mountain Division who fought the Germans on Riva Ridge in Italy's Apennine Mountains. His unit took heavy casualties.
"The Germans had their guns pointing down and out and we came in back door and completely took them by surprise," said Calvert.
Local ski enthusiasts might know Calvert from his participation in Hannes Schneider Meister Cup races. Calvert, the last of his generation of 10th Mountain Division veterans to participate in the race, finished first in the 90-and-over age class last winter.
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