‘Best trip of my life’ Female veterans reflect on service during HonorAir trip to D.C.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — HonorAir Knoxville’s Flight 35 with 141 female veterans on board, made for a lot of memories during the trip to Washington, D.C. on September 25.

“This is the best trip of my life,” said Air Force veteran Rosalind Martin, choking back tears. “To be with these women today. It means a lot to me.”

That sentiment was echoed throughout the day. Veterans took in the larger-than-life Korean War Veterans Memorial. At the Vietnam Memorial, some found the names of family friends among the 58,000 names of those who died in service to our country inscribed on the wall. Eight of those names belong to women.

Air Force veteran Jana Johnson walked along the wall, running her fingers over so many names.

“Just kind of wondering what their story was,” she said.

The group also made a special trip to the Military Women’s Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. The inscription on the statue of a female soldier and her dog reads; “Honoring all women of the U.S. military past, present and future -the pledge: to protect and defend our country.”

Women’s contributions to the service of our country are depicted through a few of the uniforms they wore and a handful of medals and commendations on display. Three million women served in the armed forces in our country since the American Revolution, but you don’t see as many stories, or as much memorabilia as the men.

Navy veterans Marilyn Childress and Deborah Olsen went through the Navy’s Training Center in Orlando more than 50 years ago. Their time in service forged a lifelong friendship. Childress was on the HonorAir trip. Olsen arranged to meet her at the Military Women’s Memorial where their reaction was strong.

“Recognition: wow, it’s pride. I don’t think I really felt that” said Olsen, “until I walked in here. Yeah, maybe I did make a difference all those years ago. Though I didn’t serve in combat, I did serve in hospitals when they brought the POWs home. “

“Same here,” Childress added. “POWs came home to the Great Lakes when I was stationed there. Very moving experience.”

Brigadier General (R) Wilma Vaught is credited with bringing the memorial to life. It opened in 1997. East Tennessee Army veteran Donna Hairston was there.

“This memorial is something for us. There was never a memorial for women and that’s what General Vaught wanted to do,” Hairston said. “It’s very important to show our story, her story on why it’s important to have women in the military. It’s not just about men in the military but women in the military because women are serving in all jobs now. When I came in, that wasn’t the case.”

So many women on this HonorAir visit shared they’re learning that their service deserves recognition.

“This whole experience is a lot,” said Shey Cudd, an Air Force veteran. “I was telling the girls in my group that it’s hard for a lot of us. It’s the first time I’ve ever worn a veterans t-shirt and it’s just not something a lot of us talk about. It’s just hard, I don’t know why learning to be proud of your experiences. It’s a lot,” she said.

One eagle-eyed veteran even spotted a Tennessee connection, a small UT flag atop a construction crane near the site. Work is underway on parking areas around the memorial.

At the World War II Memorial honoring the 400,000 Americans who gave their lives, the women gathered at the tribute to Tennessee’s veterans from that war, realizing, that there were women who made significant contributions as military nurses near the frontlines and flew cargo planes.

If there’s a woman in your family who served, even if she’s no longer living, it’s important to register her name and service with the Military Women’s Memorial. Out of the three million who served, only 300,000 are registered. Visit womensmemorial.org to register.

Several in the group stood beside an HonorAir wreath as a way of recognizing all men and women who served. More than 4300 East Tennessee veterans have made the trip to DC with HonorAir Knoxville through the years.

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