Honor Flight 2024: Veterans receive ‘mail call’ during trip to Washington, DC

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WBOY) — All week, 12 News has brought you exclusive interviews from this past weekend’s Honor Flight that took nearly 100 veterans from across the region to the nation’s capital. Part of this trip included a special mail call for those veterans.

For many of these veterans, the words “mail call” brought back memories of messages from home while they were serving their country. Honor Flight officials said that they received hundreds of letters to give to veterans this year, from family members to elementary school classrooms, and they all expressed their gratitude for their veteran’s service.

“I was really surprised…it hit a soft spot there…I shed a tear or two,” U.S. Coast Guard veteran, Vietnam era, Okey Eye said.

The goal of the mail call is for veterans who may have not received any letters during their service to get that opportunity, especially for those who fought in the Vietnam War. Alongside each veteran was a guardian, who supported them physically and emotionally every step of the way.

This year, around 80 guardians were paired off with one or two veterans… with 50 percent of those guardians being veterans themselves. One of the guardians, David Meade, told 12 News that being a guardian is “my way of showing thank you to those who made it possible for me to serve.”

Other Honor Flight stories…

Honor Flight 2024: West Virginia Korean War vets visit ‘The Forgotten War’ memorial

Honor Flight 2024: Catching up with veterans on the morning of the flight

Photos: Clarksburg area veterans go to Washington DC on Honor Flight

Many non-veteran guardians also had an instantaneous connection with their veterans. “He’s a big kidder, and we’ve just hit it right off the bat and it’s made it just real enjoyable,” Guardian Cathy Burnside said.

Some guardians were family members, and some veterans said that their loved ones making the trip alongside them made it all the better, including Lloyd Davis, whose daughter was his guardian.

“I get to spend a whole day with her without being in a doctor’s appointment or something, so that’s very joyful for me,” U.S. Army Veteran Lloyd Davis said.

Although the honor flight is free to veterans, guardians actually pay for their own trip, all to support those who served their country.

Honor Flight officials are already fundraising for next year’s flight, so if you are interested in donating, you can send donations here:

Honor Flight
430 West Pike St.
Clarksburg, WV 26301

12 News will continue to bring you stories from the Honor Flight throughout the week.

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