The Nurturing Well by: Jill Starbuck
On Wednesday, November 11, 2015, the nation celebrated Veterans Day in honor of more than 19 million veterans. As each year passes, this number continues to dwindle. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2014, just less than 1 million World War II veterans, 1.6 million Korean War veterans, and 6.4 million Vietnam veterans were still alive. Those veterans who served all three wars numbered a little more than 36,000. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, approximately 640 World War II veterans die daily.
These men and women sacrificed so much of their lives to keep our country free and safe. They gave up time with families, activities they enjoyed, and even their lives. Some of these men and women have suffered major injuries, endured torment, and have seen some horrible events. Yet they survived. But their time now is limited as they age.
We don’t have to know these people personally to appreciate what they’ve sacrificed and endured. In fact, many times we wonder how we can show our appreciation. Fortunately, a non-profit organization formed in 2005 to honor these service people: The Honor Flight Network. The organization offers free of charge to service men and women a flight to Washington D.C. to visit memorials in their honor. Naturally, this means that the organization relies on donations, volunteers, and sponsors to make these flights happen. If interested in assisting this organization, check out the website at www.honorflight.org.
For those who wish to treat a veteran to this special honor, the website provides an application that must be filled out for consideration. Special priority goes to World War II veterans and those who are terminally ill.
Even if you can’t help out physically or monetarily, making an appearance at the homecoming of one these flights shows tremendous generosity and appreciation to these service men and women. Check out the website to learn when flights are taking place near you.
On a personal note, I attended the homecoming of one of these flights last year at the Fort Wayne International Airport. The support, ambiance, and appreciation were overwhelming. When the service people entered the airport, they were not expecting such a warm welcome. The entire entryway and waiting area of the airport was packed with people waiting to shake hands, hug, and voice their appreciation. Flags, family members, strangers, and even a band stood waiting to cheer them home. The raw emotion, surprise, and humble appreciation on the service people’s faces were more rewarding than anything I’ve ever seen. I did not know a single one of the service people, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is that they felt appreciated and I can say it’s one of the best feelings I’ve had to date. Such a simple gesture to boot.
Jill Starbuck has 20 years of experience as a business writer, editor, and market research analyst. She is a certified health coach through the Integrative Institute of Nutrition and a certified running coach through the Road Runners Club of America. She is also the co-owner of a running business. She can be reached at jillstarbuck@hotmail.com.
