Guardians honor World War II and Korean War veterans

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kayla Newman
  • 633rd Air Base Wing Public Affairs
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. --  As four buses transporting approximately 80 World War II and Korean War veterans park in front of the entrance to the Marine Corps War memorial, Charles Bond saw a line of people beginning to form along the walkway to the front doors. He watched as men and women in military uniforms and members within the community created a receiving line, greeting the veterans and thanking them for their service.

Not used to receiving this much appreciation, he noticed many veterans became overwhelmed with emotions that they had long suppressed. The expressions on Veteran's faces chilled Bond as he observed the scope and impact this moment had.

Bond, who is a military spouse, along with Service members from Langley Air Force Base, Va., honored veterans of World War II and the Korean War by volunteering as guardians during the Honor Flight Historic Triangle Virginia trip to Washington, D.C., June 8.

Bond and his wife Master Sgt. Amy Bond, with Air Combat Command Command munitions policy section, have been participating in HFHTVA since 2010.

With veterans passing away at a rate of approximately 1,000 a day, retired U.S. Air Force Captain Earl Morse started the Honor Flight program. He believed that providing veterans an opportunity to see memorials built in their honor would show appreciation for their service.

In May 2005, a group of 12 World War II veterans flew to Washington, D.C., free of charge thanks to Morse. The trip was the inaugural Honor Flight.

Since the first trip in 2005, 128 regional non-profit Honor Flight organizations have been created to help veterans from all around the country get to the WWII Memorial.

Most WWII veterans are at least 80 to 90 years old, many having disabilities that hinder their movement. In order to ensure the safety of the veterans, volunteer guardians are assigned to provide companionship.

Guardians can be service members, a member of the community or a loved one of a veteran.

The Honor Flight day is a full one, taking the veterans and their guardians to the World War II Memorial, as well as Arlington National Cemetery, the Marine Corps War Memorial, Korean War and Vietnam War Memorials.

For Bond, even though he has been on several trips, the experience is always unique and has a significant impact.

"The experience and knowledge you get from being with a veteran all day is different," said Bond, a self-contractor. "You can't get this kind of information from the television or books. You are with history when you are with your veteran; you are essentially reliving what they went through."

Master Sgt. Bond echoes her husband's sentiment.

"Being an honor flight guardian shows respect to the veterans," said Master Sgt. Bond. "We want to give back and say 'thank you.'"

During the trip to Washington D.C., people from all over show their appreciation for the veterans by thanking them for their service and being present at the memorials with signs, or lining up outside the Marine Corps Memorial.

"What I look forward to is the receiving line at Quantico," explained Bond. "People are constantly greeting the veterans and their reactions are the greatest."

Master Sgt. Bond said one of the most memorable things she sees as a guardian is how veterans change once they see the memorials, suddenly displaying a sense of pride.

"The connection you make with your veteran can be life changing," said Master Sgt. Bond. "There is a sense of pride that you feel being able to do this."