AUGUSTA, Maine — Coordinators of Honor Flight Maine announced recently that 45 Maine veterans were able to take a trip to Washington, D.C. to visit memorials built to honor their service and sacrifice to the nation. It was the fifth Honor Flight trip to be planned and executed for veterans currently living in Maine.
The Honor Flight network is a non-profit organization created to honor America’s veterans for all their sacrifices. It consists of 127 nation-wide hubs, including Honor Flight Maine. Honor Flight transports veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit their memorials. Top priority is given to the senior veterans, World War II survivors, along with those veterans who may be terminally ill regardless of the campaign in which they served. Honor Flight was founded by Earl Morse in 2004 with the initial flights originating from Springfield, Ohio. Morse now lives in Vinalhaven and works as a physician’s assistant.
This Honor Flight Maine trip was planned for an Oct. 31 early morning departure from the Portland Jetport, with an arrival into Baltimore Airport. The group of 95 people, Maine veterans with their guardians and trip volunteer leaders, then traveled by motor coach buses into D.C..
The first stop of the day was a visit to reflect at the WWII Memorial. Following this, the group visited Arlington National Cemetery to witness the “Changing of the Guard” at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Additionally, at 1:15pm there was a wreath laying ceremony at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Three veterans who served in the three major conflicts had the honor of participating in this ceremony. The wreath was provided to Honor Flight Maine by Worcester Wreath and the Morill and Karen Worcester Family who also supply Wreaths Across America. The tour of the national memorials continued with a visit to the Korean, Vietnam, Marine (Iwo Jima), Air Force and Navy Memorials.
Before the flight to Washington for their tour of war memorials, all the veterans had to get to Portland where they joined the locally based trip participants. Since the initial Maine flight, March 2014, over 125 veterans and guardians have been flown to Portland from numerous locations in Maine, coordinated by Honor Flight Maine Air Operations (Maine Air Ops). In addition to the eight locations involved with the October trip (Bangor, Belfast, Frenchville, Pittsfield, Rangley, Rockland, Stonington, Waterville) locations that Veterans and Guardians have been flown from include: Eastport, Presque Isle, Vinalhaven, Bar Harbor, Matinicus. The furthest location being Frenchville, a town located in the northern most part of Maine, just across the St. John River from Canada. Frenchville is approximately 300 ground miles from Portland, a trip which could take seven hours to drive.
In a rural state such as Maine, the geographic vastness presents many logistical challenges. However, the efforts of the volunteer pilots, donating their time, aircraft and fuel costs, make the trip to Portland much more “doable” for the veterans, most of whom are in their late 80’s and many, well into their 90’s. Maine Air Ops has 33 volunteer pilots located in various parts of Maine. Several kinds of aircraft are available to participate in this mission including: small 172s, large Cessna Caravans, amphibious 206s and several helicopters.
There are sensitive issues that need to be factored into the decision of whether Honor Flight veterans participants are able to fly including the following: the veteran’s ability to physically get in and out of a small plane, understanding that, because the planes are small, there are no bathrooms on board, and their medical ability to fly must also be considered. For many of the Veterans, it is the first time they have been on a plane since their time in the war. Additional planning by the Maine Air Ops, is to establish a “Bad Weather/No Fly Plan” in the event that the weather does not permit flying. This plan typically involves a family member, friend or Guardian, committing to drive the Veteran to Portland.
Kevin Waters, Honor Flight Board member, has been flying Maine Veterans to Portland since the first Honor Flight Maine trip was established. Waters started flying in high school, a self-proclaimed “airport rat”, and earned his private pilots license at the age of 18. After 10 years in the Coast Guard, he earned his Commercial Rating, followed by his CFI (Certified Flight Instructor) ratings for single engine, multi-engine and helicopters. In 2004, Penobscot Island Air was founded, which he currently operates with his wife Terry, also an Honor Flight Board member.
“The very day I first met Earl Morse, we began talking about Honor Flight,” stated Waters. “I showed him Penobscot Island Air’s 8 passenger Cessna Caravan, and we realized what could be done to help remotely located Veterans participate in the Honor Flight Maine trips!”
Waters contacted pilots and other people he knew in the Maine Aviation community. Within a few weeks of the first in-person connection with Earl Morse, both friends, and strangers, were calling to offer their assistance to the newly formed Honor Flight Maine Air Ops mission. Often, offers involved not only volunteering piloting services, but also use of personal aircraft and resources.
“The success of the “Air Ops” segment of Maine Honor Flight has truly been a team effort,” Waters continued, “with not only pilots from all over the state offering their services, but we credit many, many people and businesses behind the scenes for making these trips possible.”
In addition to volunteer pilots with their own planes, many of the participating pilots are affiliated with various Maine corporations or businesses. The Varney Agency, a family owned insurance and bonding company, has provided the use of their 8 passenger Cessna Caravan for numerous Honor Flight Maine trips. Acadia Seaplanes, of Rangley, Oquocosett Marine/Rangley, Naples Seaplanes, Mardens, CF Almy of Pittsfield, KT Aviation, Moosehead Aviation are other air companies that have been very supportive of Maine Air Ops providing the opportunity for many Veterans to participate in Honor Flight Maine, that otherwise might not have had the chance. The Honor Flight Maine mission would not be possible without all of the support of those behind the scenes including those at the Portland Jetport, NorthEast Air, Portland Air Traffic Control (ATC) and Tower personnel, Bangor General Aviation, and so many others behind the scenes.
Honor Flight Maine trip is free to WWII veterans, and to terminally ill veterans of other campaigns. Many individuals, businesses and organizations support the Honor Flight trip with transportation, financial donations, and volunteer time, including “Adopt-a-Veteran” ($700) to make a Veteran’s trip possible.
Honor Flight Maine is always looking volunteers to help support their mission. For more information about becoming a volunteer or a guardian, contact Honor Flight Maine at (207) 370-7210 or visit www.honorflightmaine.org or contact Chairperson, Laurie Sidelinger at 207-240-1398.
