Opinion : Letter to the Editor: Thank You - Honor Flights

I just can’t express myself enough in words to demonstrate my appreciation for the kindness and concern for all of us veterans by the staff and volunteers of the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight. I hope this letter will express my gratitude. It is difficult to convey my appreciation enough for your kindness and generosity.

Like my fellow veterans who were drafted or volunteered, we realized our duty to serve our Country. As stated in the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights,  we the people were given the freedoms we enjoy today with the idea being incorporated in the Constitution, we must also be willing to defend protect and preserve those freedoms granted in those documents. 

Being selected for this Eastern Iowa Honor Flight (4-21-26), is an honor for me. I have always wanted to visit DC and the area memorials. However, I never served in country during Veit Nam and felt those who did serve there and made it back home deserved the honor more than me.

I was extremely impressed with the logistics and timing of your program. After my service was completed, I spent 20 years working as a manager and project engineer with UPS, then ran my own business and I really understand and the complexity of making a trip like these Honor Flights successful.

I was on the White bus.  I can’t remember their names directly, however, according to information in your packet for us, Mary Seely, Paul Bagby, and Kim Kuch were our coordinators and guides. They were very sociable, pleasant, and helpful with us. I appreciate their efforts to help all of us veterans.

After the return to the Cedar Rapids Airport, the journey through the terminal with the “welcome home” from the fellow veterans, veteran service organizations, businesses, individuals with flags waving was unbelievable for me. I have never experienced anything close to that. Then I saw two more of my family and a friend toward the end, just blew me away. I must say another big THANK YOU to the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight for having me on this Honor Flight. The letters from family members was also a pleasant surprise, (which didn’t get read until the following day, too tired).

Please feel free to pass my comments on to the donors who have and are supporting these flights. For many of us veterans, this is definitely a positive experience and a solemn conclusion to our military service. Although our military oath of enlistment never expires, it is now time to turn the security of our Nation over to a younger generation of men and women. I am proud to salute them for their dedication to the service and security to our Country that we veterans hold so dear to our hearts.

Sincerely,

Steven E Michels, USAF E-5 (66-71)