Honor Flight brings historic trip to local veterans

*Robert “Hip” Hoover, a Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam, kissed the American Flag after it was handed to him during the parade held at The Timbers of Jasper.*

Honor Flight of Southern Indiana’s mission is to take veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit the memorials there that honor their service. When they return, they are given a hero’s welcome.

But what happens when aging veterans are unable to take part in the trip?

Maria Rayborn, a volunteer with the Honor Flight organization, learned that a couple of veterans on the list to take the trip from The Timbers in Jasper had either recently passed away or were no longer able to travel due to health concerns. After learning that there were 10 other veterans at the facility who wouldn’t be able to take the trip, she and the activities director at The Timbers, Kim Willett, worked together to bring the Honor Flight to them.

*Richard Ashby, who served in the US Army during the Vietnam War, was supported by members of his church family from Madison, Indiana. The group raised their arms as they sang “God Bless the USA.”*

On Saturday, Honor Flight of Southern Indiana held a virtual tour of the Washington, D.C., memorials and honored each veteran with a plaque and parade through the halls of the long-term care facility. The group led the attendees in patriotic songs before holding a mail call, during which packages full of letters of appreciation for their service were delivered to each veteran.

Though they have conducted virtual Honor Flights before, this was the first time one was held in a long-term care facility, creating what organizers describe as a historic moment for the program.

Terry Storms, the committee chair for the Virtual Honor Flights, explained that providing these virtual tours is important and that the program would likely grow as more aging veterans are unable to participate.

“We started branching out toward nursing homes because this is kind of like their last chance that we can do this,” Storms said.

Storms led the group on the tour at Saturday’s event in Jasper, which was displayed on a television in the group activities room at The Timbers. Afterward, Storms read off each servicemember’s name and some details on their service.

*Gilbert Hochgesang, 101, served in World War II, smiled as his son Al helped him with his hat at Saturday’s event.*

The veterans were from all branches of the military, with the oldest being Gilbert Hochgesang, a 101-year-old World War II veteran, and the youngest being Craig Bateman, a Persian Gulf veteran from the Army National Guard.

The event was impactful.

“Oh, my gosh. I think they’ll talk about it for years. Yeah, I really do,” Willett said.

She explained how they have been excited for it since learning about the tour coming to The Timbers. Willett waited until Friday to give them the special Honor Flight shirts.

“We had one resident, when I took him his shirt, I told him what it was and when I held it up, he read the shirt and he just smiled,” she said, “And then I flipped it around, and his smile got real big.”

He thanked her.

*Ronald Reckelhoff, who served in the National Guard during Vietnam, took part in the parade through the halls of The Timbers on Saturday.*

Willett ensured the other residents at The Timbers could take part in the event. They created decorations and gifts to show their support for fellow residents participating in the Honor Flight experience. They also lined the parade route through the hallways.

“You could tell they felt honored,” Willett said, of the veterans honored on Saturday. “We’ve had a couple that never come out. I’ve seen them smile today that I’ve not seen for a while.”

Honor Flight of Southern Indiana has additional virtual reality events planned. The organization will host another virtual reality experience on Dec. 6 in Evansville at Christian Fellowship Church, featuring 12 veterans with 12 guardians accompanying them, along with family members and guests.

“I think every veteran had a good time, and I know all of our volunteers, we just live for this,” Storms, a Marine Corps veteran, said. “We get more out of it than the veterans do.”