FROM THE PRESIDENT
T
hanks to the incredible hard work and dedication of our wonderful volunteers and generous support of our donors, Honor Flight Chicago completed its 12th flight season in 2019 with 701 senior veterans receiving their day of honor. To date, we have now recognized 8,728 senior war heroes.
This flight season was a special one as we began to fly Vietnam War era veterans to Washington, D.C. along with World War II and Korean War veterans. Having three generations of veterans together was incredible to witness, and I believe the interactions among the different eras made the experience even more meaningful for them.
One of the things I am most proud of when it comes to this organization is that each season, each flight, we get better and better at what we do. The experience becomes more enjoyable and safer for our heroes with each flight that takes off based on the creativity and thoughtfulness of the people who work so hard in planning and executing our mission.
When you look at the flight comments and testimonials our veterans share in the days following their trip, it’s not the memorials we visit that they mention the most, it’s the people they meet and the conversations they have that make lasting impressions. We are overwhelmed by the positive responses and encouraging words from our veterans about how Honor Flight Chicago not only meaningfully impacted their lives but also the lives of their family and friends.
Since Honor Flight Chicago was founded in 2008, we’ve flown 95 flights filled with senior war heroes to Washington, D.C., and as we look ahead to 2020, we are already planning for our 100th flight. Combine that with our annual Bourbon Street fundraiser, Law Enforcement Hockey Classic, the continued momentum of our Operation Education program, and the more than 2,500 veterans on our flight waitlist, and there is a lot to be excited about at Honor Flight Chicago.
Most importantly, the work that we do honoring our senior war veterans has taught us all that we have a great opportunity to better remember, learn from, and pay tribute to those who have protected our freedoms, past, present, and future generations.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank you for your interest in and support of Honor Flight Chicago.
John Ptak
Honor Flight Chicago President
HONOR. THANK. INSPIRE.
Honor Flight Chicago says “Thank you” to America’s senior war veterans with an all-expense paid journey to Washington, D.C., to see the memorials built in their honor. The trip is one day, but the experience is life-changing.
THREE GENERATIONS OF HEROES
Honor Flight Chicago gave Vietnam War era veterans their Day of Honor for the first time in 2019. These heroes joined veterans from World War II and the Korean War on their journey to Washington, D.C., and the chance to have three generations of veterans together was an impactful experience for all involved.
For these veterans, the visit to the Vietnam War Memorial was obviously impactful. One of our veterans, sobbing, kept saying to his guardian that he felt like “bricks had been lifted off my shoulders.” Another quietly pointed to a name on the Wall with an American flag, returned to his wheelchair to speak about that person, left the flag at the Wall and moved on to a different name to repeat the process. Yet another veteran stood inches from the Wall, willing himself to touch it. A piece of paper could barely pass through the gap this veteran left between himself and the black granite. Finally, both hands shot up and pressed against the names. He held them there, head bowed, in a deeply personal moment.
These stories are not unique in our history. Our World War II veterans have had similar interactions with the stars at the Freedom Wall, and our Korean War veterans with the faces etched at their Memorial. What is unique, however, is the context. As they find the names of those they lost on the Wall, our Vietnam veterans bring with them their memories of being ignored, ridiculed, and abused for wearing the uniform of their country. We saw firsthand how their time at the Wall can help address those feelings.
“For years I never told anyone I was in Vietnam because of the way we were treated. I burned all my stuff from there when I came home. On Sept. 18, 2019, I was able to hold my head up because I was finally being respected for serving my country.”
“For all the years that I have been discharged from the military I was unable to go to my Vietnam Wall. On this trip I finally went to our Wall and said goodbyes to all my men in my unit that died. By going on this Honor Flight we all got our closure that was late in coming.”
MEET OUR HEROES
Honor Flight Chicago has given 8,728 senior war veterans their day of honor, and each of those men and women have a story to tell. Here are several from some of the veterans who flew with Honor Flight Chicago in 2019.
Paul Young U.S. Army Air Forces World War II Pingree Grove, IL
In most lifetimes, 116 days is not a particularly long time. It’s less than a school semester and a little bit more than half a baseball season.
For Paul Young, it was long enough to fly 35 missions over hostile territory as a B-17 Navigator in the middle of World War II, accumulating over 700 flying hours — 300 of which were considered “combat hours” — with the 305th Bombardment Group, one of the oldest and most highly decorated bomber groups in Europe.
Matthias Burger, Jr U.S. Army Korean War Park Ridge, IL
Matthias Burger was assigned to G Company, 180th infantry regiment, 45th Division. In the spring of 1952, he found himself on the front lines positioned just north of Kaesong. Burger was a 57mm Recoilless Gunner, and as squad leader, he carried and fired the heavy machinery while seven others carried the ammunition. Unlike other rifles, the gun was fired from atop the shoulder rather than in front of it. It saved injury to his shoulder, but cost Burger some of the hearing in his right ear.
Phillip Cirullo U.S. Navy Vietnam War Blue Island, IL
Phillip Cirullo joined the Navy and wound up seeing the world during service aboard three different ships — the USS America, the USS Essex (an older vessel used during World War II) and the USS Enterprise.
He spent the majority of his time on the Enterprise, which was the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. He was part of the blockade of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis and went on to make three trips to the Mediterranean. He toured France, Spain, Italy and other nearby countries. His final cruise lasted seven months and took Cirullo around the world to Vietnam, Australia, and then Brazil.
Clyde Wilson U.S. Army Vietnam War Park Forest, IL
Clyde Wilson was assigned to the 196th Light Infantry Brigade, 1st Battalion, Company A as a small unit commander. During his final stint, Wilson acted as Executive Officer, whose chief duty was to pay the soldiers. That meant flying a helicopter into the combat zone to hand deliver troops their pay. One time, an attack began as Wilson approached. The current commanding officer was wounded, which put Wilson in charge. He led the platoon across the rice paddies to safety, then returned for two wounded soldiers. For his leadership and bravery that day, Wilson received the Silver Star.
OUR VOLUNTEERS
Honor Flight Chicago would not exist without its incredibly loyal volunteers. Many of our volunteers have been with us for years, and we take pride when we hear people say they have never seen an organization with the type of devoted volunteers we have.
Our volunteers help out in hundreds of different ways and represent Honor Flight Chicago at all types of events throughout the Chicago metro area and in Northwest Indiana. Here are just a few examples of where our volunteers connected with veterans in 2019:
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: DENNY DECOCK
Why do you volunteer with Honor Flight Chicago?
I want to help veterans who served in our various wars be appropriately recognized and honored for their service. While I enjoyed my time in the Air Force during the Vietnam era, I was lucky not to have served in Vietnam and admire all of these veterans who gave two or more years of their lives for our country under difficult conditions.
What’s your favorite flight day memory?
I was a guardian for an 88-year-old Korean War vet who was a radio operator on a B-29, and the stories he and the other vet for whom I was responsible for that morning told were amazing. What else was remarkable was while these two had been in the service the exact same dates, they had not known each other before the flight. By the end of the day, they were inseparable best buddies and vowed to stay in touch.
What roles have you held within the organization?
I began as an orange shirt volunteer in the early mornings for the flights to D.C. from Midway (which I still do). I’ve been a bus captain and I work in the HFC office doing database updates, thank you letters, and other office clerical work. I also make the name tags for all the volunteers and veterans for the actual flights, as well as business cards for the veterans, and I use photo recognition software to identify veteran pictures.
When did you start volunteering with Honor Flight Chicago?
I started volunteering at Honor Flight Chicago in the early spring of 2016.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I enjoy working with HFC and hope to do so for a long time. I also try to recruit volunteers for the 3 a.m. duties at Midway, but so far, no takers!
HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2019
Honor Flight Chicago hosted a press conference at Soldier Field to announce that it would begin flying Vietnam-era veterans during the 2019 flight season.
After Co-Founder and CEO Mary Pettinato retired, Doug Meffley joined Honor Flight Chicago as Director of Communications and Edna Ho started as Director of Operations.
Jewel-Osco held a PIN pad promotion through the month of February in an effort to raise money for Honor Flight Chicago.
The eighth-annual Law Enforcement Hockey Classic featured appearances by Chicago PD actor Jon Seda, actor DB Sweeney, Stanley Cup champion Brandon Bollig and CBS anchor Rob Johnson.
More than 200 veterans, volunteers, and family members helped represent Honor Flight Chicago at the South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Honor Flight Chicago served as Grand Marshal for the parade.
Eighty-three Vietnam War-era veterans flew on Honor Flight Chicago’s June flight, the first with senior war heroes from the Vietnam War era.
Veterans on the July flight were greeted at the World War II Memorial by General Colin Powell, who personally thanked each vet for their service and sacrifice.
OUR IMPACT
Honor Flight Chicago flies six flights each season, but the impact of the organization is felt far beyond those six days. Even years after their trip, veterans say their Honor Flight Chicago experience not only bolstered their self-esteem and pride in their service, but it was truly one of the most memorable days of their lives.
Here is what some of the veterans who flew in 2019 experienced.
RECONNECTING WITH HER LOVE
When 98-year-old WWII Navy Lieutenant Clelia Ginay was invited to fly on #HFC94, she told her volunteer ambassador something of note: Her husband, Navy Lieutenant John Ginay, was interred at Arlington National Cemetery when he passed away in 2004. She had not been able to visit him since the day he was laid to rest.
Honor Flight Chicago wanted to change that.
Clelia’s family long ago misplaced their permanent pass to gain access to the Arlington National Cemetery grounds, so her ambassador applied for a new one and managed to get it in record time. Another volunteer hand-delivered that pass to flight leadership at Midway the morning of the flight.
Meanwhile, in D.C., a third volunteer secured a van large enough for the side-trip travel party. He also purchased flowers that Clelia could leave for her husband. A fourth volunteer came on board to help navigate Arlington because her husband is interred in the same columbarium as John Ginay.
With plans set, seven people loaded into a rented Dodge Caravan following a ceremony at the World War II Memorial. As a finishing touch of class, Sgt. Holmes of the Park Police served as a motorcycle escort over and into the cemetery. There, Clelia had an emotional reunion with her husband that was 15 years in the making.
We have seen countless acts of generosity, compassion and love from our volunteers. What has us bursting with pride is the way so many volunteers came together to make this happen for one of our heroes.
Norval Edwards
“Other than my wedding day and the birthdays of my sons, this was the best day of my life! I could have spent the whole day at the Lincoln Memorial reading the wonderful quotations from Mr. Lincoln. Politicians today should be made to come and partake of his wisdom!”
Bill Collins
“Every time I thought things were great they got better! By the time we got off the plane in Chicago and saw all those sailors and other people, I was in tears. The day couldn’t have been better!”
Adeline Lence
“The WWII Memorial was very special to me. There were three women on the flight and all the men wanted to say hello to us, I truly felt special. It was a long day, but every part of it was special in its own way.”
Joey Arcara
“I’ve been having a rough time with the post-traumatic stress. Kids, old and young ladies, old and young men, shaking hands, giving me hugs and kisses. That’s the real America. I’m so proud that I was asked, I’m very, very grateful that I went”
OPERATION EDUCATION
At Honor Flight Chicago, not only do we honor and thank our senior war heroes, but we also inspire future generations by sharing the stories of our veterans and demonstrating the power of gratitude and respect. One of the most impactful and enjoyable ways we do that is through Operation Education.
Operation Education helps students understand the wars where American soldiers served, develop an appreciation for a veteran’s service and sacrifice, and implement ways to support the mission of Honor Flight Chicago.
We’ve been honored to partner with dozens of schools throughout the Chicago area over the years. This past year alone, 43 schools worked with our organization to host assemblies, fundraisers and/or our Mail Call initiative. In total, these schools helped raise more than $25,000, fully funding trips for 20 senior war heroes.
Here is how three of those schools raised awareness for Honor Flight Chicago in 2019.
Hickory Creek Middle School Frankfort, IL
During the month of October, every seventh-grader at Hickory Creek is asked the same question: What makes a hero? That question becomes the basis of a four-week Veterans Day curriculum that involves raising money for Honor Flight Chicago.
For more than 10 years, Honor Flight Chicago representative Read Boeckel and World War II veteran Helen Ehlers have visited the school during their Veterans Day assembly to humbly accept the donations made by students and staff at the school.
“Students engage in this activity with much enthusiasm, appreciation, and respect, all while knowing there is no material reward in the end,” said Hickory Creek seventh-grade teacher Tonia Gatsios. “The true reward is knowing that as a school, they are paying it forward to the men and women who have served and protected our country.
“Students are left with a great appreciation of how veterans have fought, and continue to fight, for the rights and freedoms we have in this country.”
York Community High School Elmhurst, IL
Kaitlyn Selfridge recently graduated from York Community High School in Elmhurst. While at York, Selfridge was a member of the Interact Club, a group of students who are connected to Rotary and learn the power of giving and need for service above self.
Selfridge learned about Honor Flight Chicago through her dad, who is an executive at Sayers, itself a proud supporter of HFC. Inspired by the work done at Honor Flight Chicago, Selfridge wanted to find a way to give back to the organization and the heroes it honors. She decided to use her own money and buy suckers to sell at her school’s football games.
At the end of the season, Selfridge raised $500, but she wanted to keep going. She wasn’t going to stop until she raised $1,200, the cost of sending one veteran for their Day of Honor. The Interact Club joined in and continued fundraising on behalf of Honor Flight Chicago. In May 2019, York High School presented a check for $1,200 to Honor Flight Chicago.
“Veterans are some of the most brave and selfless people,” Selfridge said. “They put their lives on the line and in danger, and don’t think twice about it, just to ensure this country could remain free. I decided to help raise money because the sacrifices they made to help protect each and every one of us can not and should not be forgotten.”
Selfridge now attends Indiana University, where she plans to major in business, but the Interact Club pledged to continue fundraising for HFC.
Hadley Junior High School Glen Ellyn, IL
Students at Hadley Junior High School had the opportunity to meet and interview veterans from World War II and the Korean War while learning about Honor Flight Chicago.
Students wrote narratives about the veterans afterward, then were asked how they could help spread the word about the goal and mission of Honor Flight Chicago.
Students came up with a variety of ideas, including:
• Write letters for mail call
• Record podcasts/videos about veteran stories
• Design a coffee cup with the Honor Flight Chicago logo and a QR code to link to the HFC website for donations
• Visit senior homes in the area to share information about HFC with eligible veterans
• Design an HFC App idea to pitch to the Verizon App Challenge competition
• Distribute HFC bookmarks at the local library or local bookstores
Teachers repeatedly heard from many students that they knew veterans were important, but their awareness was now permanently elevated and changed by this experience.
LOOKING FORWARD
Honor Flight Chicago will reach a major milestone in 2020: our 100th flight!
When we first took off for Washington, D.C., on June 11, 2008 for our inaugural flight, there were 60 WWII veterans on board. As we approach HFC Flight 100 in August of 2020, we have expanded our missions to include an average of 100 WWII, Korean War and Vietnam War veterans flying side-by-side to our nation’s capital.
The 380 Vietnam veterans we honored during the 2019 season were the first in our history. As those veterans have returned to their communities, they have been outspoken about the tremendous impact and closure their long-awaited Welcome Home has provided. While our WWII and Korean War heroes heard very little if anything when returning from their service, our Vietnam veterans heard lots of things – and they weren’t positive. Said one Vietnam veteran of his Honor Flight Chicago experience: “After being rejected on return from ’Nam, by society and by Congress, this was the first time I felt someone cared. I can only express how rewarding our experience was. I will never forget it.”
Their advocacy resulted in our Vietnam veteran wait list ballooning to more than 2,600 names, with more applications arriving to our office every week. Though our 100th flight will be a celebration of all we have accomplished, there remain thousands of veterans who still await the honor, thanks and inspiration we provide.
FINANCIALS
| Contributions | $1,247,610 |
| Grants | $10,500 |
| Guardian reimbursements | $82,278 |
| In-kind revenue | $820,653 |
| Special events, net | $95,565 |
| Other revenue | $29,088 |
| Total Revenues | $2,285,695 |
| Program services | $1,825,378 |
| Management and general | $85,210 |
| Fundraising | $36,271 |
| Total Expenses | $1,946,859 |
| Change in net assets | $338,836 |
| Net assets, beginning of period | $1,141,508 |
| Net assets, end of period | $1,480,344 |
Went directly to honoring veterans
SPECIAL THANKS
- Our current active duty military for their service and sacrifice
- 100 Women Who Care DuPage County
- Abt Electronics
- Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center
- American Taxi Dispatch, Inc.
- Andrew and Alice Fischer Charitable Trust
- Arnie Daxe, Chair Welcome Team at Dulles Airport
- Assurance Caring Together Foundation
- CFBA “Honor Flight Band” and its Director Jeff Seffens
- Chicago Bears
- Chicago Blackhawks
- Chicago Cubs
- Chicago White Sox
- Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA)
- Chicago Fire Department
- Chicago Fire Department Pipes and Drums
- Chicago Park District
- Clear Channel Outdoor
- Colliers International
- Crown Point Community Foundation
- Dave Benbennick and Jeff Smith, Oxygen Coordinators
- DC Guardians and Volunteers at Dulles Airport
- DC Logistics Team
- Deloitte
- Diamond Communication Solutions
- DM Merchandising, Inc
- Duchossois Family Foundation
- Dulles Airport Operations and TSA
- DuPage Veterans Foundation
- Employees and Volunteers of Midway Airport
- Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
- Fairfax County Police Department
- Firefighters Highland Guard of Naperville
- General Colin Powell, USA (Ret)
- George M. Van Cleave Family Foundation
- Gotta Swing, LLC
- Governor and Mrs. Bruce Rauner
- Helen B. Downie Trust
- Herndon (VA) Police Department
- Jewel-Osco
- Joint Service Color Guard
- Karen Pride, Director of Media Relations (CDA)
- LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry
- Legacy Foundation
- Libertyville Sunrise Rotary Foundation
- Lutheran Life Communities and Lidia Rincon
- Mann Weitz & Associates LLC
- Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon
- Mark and Wendy Campana
- Masonic Family Health Foundation
- Medline Industries, Inc.
- Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
- Midway Airport Firefighters, Paramedics, Police Officers, MATCO and Prospect
- Midway Partnership—SSP America
- Midway Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
- Mission BBQ
- Motorola Solutions Foundation
- National Air and Space Museum—Stephen F. Udvar Hazy Center
- National Park Service Police Escorts and Volunteers
- Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management
- Our motorcycle groups
- PEL/VIP and Ray Kalinsky
- Pipes and Drums of the Chicago Police Department
- Radio One, Dallas, TX
- Red Poppy Creative, Graphic Designer
- Rob Williamson, Photographer and Photo Manager
- South Side Irish Parade
- Southwest Airlines
- Standard Parking at Midway Airport
- Stephen R. Brown, Photojournalist and Publisher
- Sweet Reminder
- Talking Rain
- U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team
- U.S. Congressman Sean Casten
- U.S. Congressman Dan Lipinski
- U.S. Congressman Mike Quigley
- USO Dulles Airport
- Village of Bensenville
- Virginia State Police
- Vivid Seats, LLC
- Wintrust Financial Corporation
- Women in Military Service for America Memorial
- U.S. Navy Sailors and Officers
- Honor Flight Chicago’s Board of Directors
- John Ptak, President
- Bonni Pear, Vice President
- William Hassett, Secretary
- Mary Pettinato, Treasurer
- Alan Garfield, Director
- Paul Meincke, Director
- Captain Mark Meskimen, Director
- Cyndi Greenglass, Director
- The Honor Flight Chicago volunteers