Three Cheers for Our Amazing Volunteers
Honor Flight Chicago has zero employees. Our organization runs strictly on the support of hundreds of volunteers who do an amazing job. Each flight requires more than 250 man-hours to bring together — and that’s before we even get off the ground!
From pre-flight operations to fundraising, communications to airport logistics, volunteers keep Honor Flight Chicago running.
Businesses like American Taxi Dispatch, Inc. have offered their services. Volunteers, from Boy Scouts to Cheer Teams, have gotten creative with fundraisers and raised thousands of dollars for flights. Kids have done many different things. A high school History Club recently held a walk-a-thon and raised over $1,000. Kids have even held Penny Wars to raise funds. Raising funds is an important form of volunteering to Honor Flight Chicago and is very much appreciated!
Interested? It’s an amazing opportunity to say thank you to our heroes and help give them the day of honor they deserve. You’d be surprised at the number of ways you can get involved. There are opportunities for volunteers with all types of talents and interests.
Get a volunteer application here, or dip your toe into the volunteering pool by coming out to our next Welcome Home Celebration on May 12th. By joining the hundreds of people that gather at the airport to greet the veterans as they come home, you can help put the perfect end to a perfect day.
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Donate. Volunteer. Sign Up a Vet.
Visit http://honorflightchicago.org
Or call 773.227.VETS (8387)
Honor Flight Praising
The Honor Flight Chicago troupe are people you should know,
Their dedication, as a group, will make your senses glow.
They’ve taken on themselves a task not many would even try,
But they will tell you, should you ask, the very reason why.
The veterans of World War II are swiftly dying out,
They think that plaudits now are due, which avidly they tout.
They take these veterans, scot-free, to Washington, no less,
For their Memorial to see, sans fan-fare, ads, or Press.
Now, though you may applaud their goal—not leaving one behind—
Both time and money take a toll—the latter tough to find.
So they are always searching for a new financial source;
Because each trip takes more and more expenditures in force.
Is this a hint? You bet it is! This isn’t just some lip.
You’ll find that you are in a whiz-bang, monumental trip!
R. Williams,
Honor Flight Chicago Veteran and HFC Poet Laureate
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Donate. Volunteer. Sign Up a Vet.
Visit http://honorflightchicago.org
Or call 773.227.VETS (8387)
A Flight to Remember
Tears of Joy
We are now getting into the swing of the new season, and last week we had a really great flight!
There were 81 wonderful World War II veterans on the flight and we were pleased that it included five female veterans: 2 Navy, 2 Army, and 1 Marine. The day was long, but that meant little to the veterans — when greeted by the crowd at the Welcome Home celebration, one even danced along the corridor. Here’s what a few had to say about the day:
“It was the best day of my life.” – Lou N.
“Absolutely outstanding.” – Pete P.
“What a day — I can’t believe it! It was super.” – Jack K.
“I was completely overwhelmed. I didn’t know there was so much love in the world.” – Phil M.
“Everything was so wonderful and great. I want to thank all the volunteers who organized this. It was so amazing, I was in tears.” – Don M.
In just two short years, we’ve doubled our number of flights for World War II Veterans to visit their memorial in Washington, D.C. and experience their well deserved day of recognition. Last week’s flight, however, was just the beginning.
Honor Flight Chicago has taken over 1,100 veterans to Washington so far, but it is estimated that there are 25,000 World War II veterans in the Chicagoland area — and we want to see each and every one receive their day of honor! There are nine more flights scheduled, but not all are funded as of yet. It costs approximately $500 per veteran for the flight, so you can see we have an ambitious goal. Please consider donating to Honor Flight Chicago so that we may send every World War II veteran to Washington before it’s too late.
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Donate. Volunteer. Sign Up a Vet.
Visit http://honorflightchicago.org
Or call 773.227.VETS (8387)
April 21st is the Day!
The time has come — Honor Flight Chicago will be kicking off flight season with our first flight of the year on April 21. We currently have 10 flights scheduled for a 29-week period! We’re so excited that another year is upon us.
At Honor Flight Chicago, we’re anxious to get started with flights again so that we can honor more of our heroes. We want to take as many veterans as possible to Washington, D.C. to see the memorial built in their honor.
Unfortunately, the sense of urgency is getting these veterans to their memorial continues to grow. Honor Flight Chicago currently has over 1,200 veterans on our waiting list, and our goal is to get as many of them as possible to Washington while they are still able to do so.
Making these flights happen requires the support of many people — donors and volunteers alike. We need to raise the funds to make the flights possible and need the volunteers to help make them happen.
One way to show your support for our heroes is to come out for the Welcome Home celebration. Honor Flight Chicago enlists hundreds of volunteers to come to Midway Airport to greet the veterans as they return home from their day in Washington, D.C.
Please join us on April 21st for our first Welcome Home celebration of the year! All you have to do is meet at the baggage claim area at Midway Airport. Their flight arrives at 8:30 p.m., but we ask that volunteers arrive at least 45 minutes prior to the flight’s arrival. We hope to see you on April 21st so that you can help make the Welcome Home the memorable celebration that the veterans have been awaiting for more than 60 years.
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Donate. Volunteer. Sign Up a Vet.
Visit http://honorflightchicago.org
Or call 773.227.VETS (8387)
Follow us on Twitter. Find us on Facebook.
What Makes Honor Flight Chicago Run?
The military could not run without people helping everywhere – from the front lines to the mess halls to recruiting back home – and neither could Honor Flight Chicago.
There are a lot of pieces that come together to make Honor Flight Chicago successful in honoring our World War II veterans by enabling them to visit their memorial in Washington, D.C. Without each of these pieces, we could not make it work.
One of the major factors in making everything work are the great volunteers who step up to do everything from A to Z. Honor Flight Chicago has zero paid employees, which enables us to use our funds to send more veterans to Washington, rather than paying salaries. We are fortunate to have a very dedicated, adaptable corps of volunteers who are willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done.
We have a variety of committees dedicated to the various components necessary to make things work: Communications, Veterans Outreach, Fundraising, Administration, and Logistics. Check back in the coming weeks as we profile each of these committees on the blog — you never know what you might want to be a part of!
If you are interested in joining the ranks of the Honor Flight Chicago volunteers, please complete the Volunteer Application. We need people with all skills. Not only do we appreciate your help — it is very much appreciated by our veterans! Without the volunteers, Honor Flight Chicago could not be possible.
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Donate. Volunteer. Sign Up a Vet.
Visit http://honorflightchicago.org
Or call 773.227.VETS (8387)
A Brand New Start
R. Williams, Honor Flight Chicago Veteran and HFC Poet Laureate
January is a time of new beginnings when we look forward to the new year stretching before us. It is a time for optimism — the knowledge that we can accomplish much in this bright new year.
Honor Flight Chicago is looking forward to a great year, and we are hopeful that we can accomplish a great deal in our quest to get as many veterans as possible to Washington, D.C. this year to see their memorial. We know that with everyone’s help there is so much we can do. Our New Year’s resolution remains firm!
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Donate. Volunteer. Sign Up a Vet.
Visit http://honorflightchicago.org
Or call 773.227.VETS (8387)
Share Your Connections
Like most nonprofit charities, Honor Flight Chicago works through donations — individual donations, donations through fundraisers, and donations through grants.
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Every penny counts toward honoring our veterans with a trip to their memorial. But when so many are feeling the pinch themselves through lost jobs or reduced wages, it can be difficult to find money to send to a favorite charity. That’s where grants can make a wonderful world of difference, helping shore up the gap as they are often for larger sums of money.
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Each day Honor Flight Chicago receives 20 calls from people suggesting a new grant for us — some company, some organization, some school’s alumni. We love these suggestions, but unfortunately we often can’t apply because we don’t have a contact. Many of these grants require a sponsor between the company and the charity — they don’t have to give money but instead act as a liaison.
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Our theme this fall quarter is that there’s no greater time to say thanks. We’re asking you to say thanks by sharing your connections. Maybe you worked at Company X. Maybe you graduated from School Y. Maybe you’re a member of Organization Z. All of those connections are invaluable when applying for a grant.
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To share a connection, please e-mail Mary Pettinato at PRMedia@HonorFlightChicago.org or call 773.227.VETS with ideas or contacts to pursue.
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In addition, please think of who you know and help us connect with those contacts as well. Maybe you didn’t work at Company X, but you have a friend who does. Help us get the word out by becoming a fan on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and checking us out on LinkedIn. Spread the word and increase our network.
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Help us say thank you to the 1,000 World War II veterans still on our list, waiting for a flight, by sharing your connections with us so we can apply for more grants to achieve the ultimate goal: helping every WWII veteran in the Chicagoland area see their memorial.
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Donate. Volunteer. Sign Up a Vet.
Visit http://honorflightchicago.org
Or call 773.227.VETS (8387)
There is No Greater Time to Say Thanks
October
Engrossed in serving Nature’s quest As harbinger to Winter’s rest, October’s riotous display Bespeaks as much of life as May. With paintbrush lavishly immersed, Its splash of color thus dispersed, October calls in clarion voice: The year is ending. Come, rejoice! R. Williams, Honor Flight Chicago Veteran and HFC Poet Laureate
As the seasons change and it quickly settles into Fall, it’s clear that summer is over. The break is done and school is back in session. At Honor Flight Chicago, we know the feeling. Though we were busy with a number of flights over the summer as well as numerous fundraisers to make the flights possible, with autumn’s arrival we are even more active — we have four flights in eight weeks, flying 315 World War II veterans to see their memorial!
There is truly no greater time to say thanks — to the veterans for their sacrifice, or to our supporters who allow us to honor them. We’re still working around the clock, however, for enough funds to honor the 1,000+ WWII veterans aged 80-99 who are eagerly anticipating their day of honor with Honor Flight Chicago. Before you get lost in the hustle and bustle of Fall, please remember to take time out to say thank you to our veterans for the service and sacrifice they have made so that we can enjoy the freedoms so many take for granted.
There’s no better way than by donating to pay tribute to them with an Honor Flight.
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Donate. Volunteer. Sign Up a Vet.
Visit http://honorflightchicago.org
Or call 773.227.VETS (8387)
An Unexpected Gift
Delbert “Steamy” Redmann enlisted in the Army at just 17 years old. For five years he served as a medic in the South Pacific Theater during World War II, and after the war, he stayed in the Army Reserves for an additional 15 years before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Lt. Colonel Redmann was active throughout his life, volunteering as a ski patroller well into his 80s. He traveled with Honor Flight Chicago May 12 of this year and described the day as “awesome and inspiring!” To help raise awareness for Honor Flight Chicago, he also agreed to participate in the Chicago Memorial Day Parade and proudly donned his military uniform. Sadly, on August 23, Redmann died of complications related to a bleeding ulcer.
As one final salute to their husband, father, and grandfather, the Redmann family requested that donations be made to Honor Flight Chicago–in lieu of flowers. This thoughtful request raised enough money to honor another WWII veteran with an Honor Flight. Steamy would be proud and honored.
We would like to take this time to say goodbye to a good friend, and say thank you to him and his family for his lasting tribute. Delbert, you will be missed but not forgotten.
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Donate. Volunteer. Sign Up a Vet.
Visit http://honorflightchicago.org
Or call 773.227.VETS (8387)
Our Documentary is in the Running for an Emmy!
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. At Honor Flight Chicago, we can tell you time and again what it means to honor the veterans of World War II, but nothing can compare to the power of a picture. That’s why we put together the Honor Flight Chicago documentary, narrated by Gary Sinise. The documentary was put together by an all volunteer team — not one person who assisted on this project made one penny on it. The goal was to give you a glimpse of the veterans’ day of honor.
The powerful outpouring of support for our documentary via letters, donations, and new volunteers has prompted us to have it entered. Currently, the video is being reviewed by a panel of judges, and on October 1 we will find out if we will be nominated for an Emmy by the judges. Whether or not we receive a nomination — or the ultimate prize, the Emmy — we are incredibly proud of our documentary and how it accurately portrays this powerful day. We invite you to watch and enjoy a look into one of the fastest growing not-for-profits around. The people in this video are why we do what we do.
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Donate. Volunteer. Sign Up a Vet.
Visit http://honorflightchicago.org
Or call 773.227.VETS (8387)
