Veterans visit memorials on Honor Flight

Fred Hall, the flight’s only World War II veteran, poses at the World War II memorial in Washington, D.C. Photo: Tim Webb

Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives’ sponsored Honor Flight returned to a rousing welcome home ceremony at Blue Grass Airport on Sept. 16 after a full day of touring Washington, D.C. The flight transported 66 Kentucky veterans to see their memorials on the National Mall.

This is the 12th year that Salt River Electric and our sister cooperatives have sponsored an Honor Flight. Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives began working with Honor Flight in 2010 to honor Kentucky’s veterans.

This flight carried one World War II veteran, eight Korean War veterans and two women veterans, who were inducted into the Military Women’s Memorial during the trip. The additional veterans served our country during the Vietnam War. Two Purple Heart recipients were also among the veterans on this trip.

Salt River was proud to sponsor James Strange and Fred Hall on this year’s Honor Flight.

James Strange, a Vietnam War veteran, makes his way off the plane to a welcome celebration
at Reagan National Airport. Photo by Tim Webb

Hall, the flight’s only World War II veteran, finally got to fly to Washington, D.C. after waiting two years. That day, he was able to see some of our nation’s monuments, including the World War II monument on the National Mall.

“All of the stuff we went through … we’ve seen a lot,” Hall told WKYT-TV in an interview the morning of the flight. Later that day at the World War II memorial, Hall caught up with a fellow World War II veteran, 102-year old Bruno from Florida.

“It’s a privilege to be able to fly these veterans to their memorials, and it’s an opportunity to repay them in some small way for their service to our nation and our community,” says Salt River President/CEO Tim Sharp. “Honor Flight is a significant part of our commitment to our communities, a key cooperative principle.”

As in years past, veterans flew from Lexington to Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., where they boarded three buses for a full day of honors and sightseeing. The day included viewing the changing of the guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. Kentucky veterans also participated in a wreath-laying service at the tomb.

If you are a veteran interested in signing up for a future Honor Flight, or know someone who is, visit www.honor flightky.org or www.togetherwesaveky. com/community for more information.