News : 'These guys are the best:' Honor Flight volunteers tell why they help veterans

Guardian Cheryl Bock's father was a WWII vet; she was Dale Speckner's guardian Tuesday.

'Ground Crew' member Karen Rippe welcomes Francis Stephen Sr. to D.C.

Ground Crew members wave as the veterans' buses leave the airport en route to D.C. memorials.

'These guys are the best!' says Karen Rippe of WWII veterans.

Florence Thomas receives a Ground Crew welcome at Dulles airport.

Jay Bolin receives his welcome at Dulles Airport from a Ground Crew member.

Guardian Dennis Allard and his father, veteran Robert Allard of Urbana

The vets met many citizens who stopped to say thanks; Lloyd Cherryholmes poses with a student.

Many students posed for photos with WWII veteran Charles Akers at the Iwo Jima Memorial.

From the moment they arrive at the Eastern Iowa Airport early in the morning, until they get back in their car to head home, the Honor Flight veterans are accompanied by a large group of volunteers who help make their visit to Washington, D.C. a day to remember forever.

Those volunteers enlist for a variety of reasons, but all of them do so out of respect and gratitude for the veterans they assist.

"This is the right thing to do," said Jeff Peterson. "It's an awesome honor to share this day with them." As an investment representative, Peterson said he has many customers who are World War II veterans. Meeting them and hearing their stories inspired him to be a guardian for Burt Davis.

As they planned for their trip, Davis told Peterson much about his military career as a pilot and flight instructor who learned and taught others to fly the P-61.

While many guardians sign up to help a specific veteran, others sign up for the Honor Flight (and each guardian pays more than $500 to help cover the cost of the trip) with the idea of helping a veteran they have not yet met.

"My father was a World War II veteran," says Cheryl Bock of Iowa City, who served as a guardian for Dale Speckner of Shellsburg.

Bock's father died before the WWII Memorial was opened.

"Since I can't take my own father, I decided to help someone else's father make this trip," said Bock.

Also, as a nurse, Bock is trained to help those with medical needs. Several medical professionals are required for each trip, helping the veterans who need oxygen, inhalers, medicine or other daily care, as well as to assist with any medical emergencies that arise.

Chris Kivett-Berry of North Liberty said she was bored a couple winters ago when she read a story about Honor Flight and called director Mary Clapp who offered her plenty to do. On Tuesday, Kivett-Berry, who also now serves on the Honor Flight board, was a guardian for James Peterson of Vinton.

"I was honored to escort my new friend Jim Peterson to the sites in DC. What a rare pleasure to spend so much time with the best people in the world, on a beautiful day, sharing the same moment," she said.

Ground Crew

Volunteers not only walk with the veterans along their journey, but also waited to welcome them in Washington, D.C.

"These guys are the best!" says Karen Rippe, in a slightly southern accent. Rippe is one of dozens of members of a volunteer group called the "Ground Crew." Ground Crew members are easily identified: Each wears a brightly-colored green T-shirts with this quote from Will Rogers printed on the back: "We can't all be heroes; some of us have to stand on the curb and clap as they go by."

The Ground Crew members did indeed stand and clap for the veterans. Rippe welcomed each with a hug and a kiss on the cheek before looking them in the eye and saying, "Thank you for your service." The Ground Crew members also helped with wheelchairs, oxygen and pointing the way to the correct doors and gates.

Several young children accompany parents to the airport, extending their small hands to welccome the veterans as they enter the airport, and waving flags as the bus leaves for the WWII Memorial.

The Ground Crew group that welcomed the Eastern Iowa veterans was slightly smaller than the group that welcomed the September group, but only because there were two flights at the same time Tuesday morning. Half of the Ground Crew members went to the Reagan airport to greet and help veterans arriving there.

Volunteer organization

While many people volunteer on the day of Honor Flights, many more volunteers spend countless hours behind the scenes, helping make the trip possible. Honor Flight volunteers helped set up the organization and obtain its non-profit status. They help veterans sign up for the trip, determine what medical needs must be met throughout the day, and line up enough guardians. They also send information to the participants and organize the orientation that takes place two weeks before the trip. Fund-raising and other activities continue throughout the year, keeping the volunteers occupied between trips.

September flight planned

The Eastern Iowa Honor Flight plans another trip in September. Members will soon start making arrangements for that event.