SAMVOTA - Honour Flight participation
The flights and tours that Honor Flight, Houston provide to World War II veterans are absolutely FREE. It is a nonprofit and is governed by the Honor Flight Network.
Most treat this as their final mission to say goodbye and pay their respects to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice – a total of 40480 USA men and woman died during the war.
They get to see that the cost of the war and the remembrance of their mates will not be forgotten by future generations.
4th March, 2014
G'day fellow members
As the first Inaugural Honor Fight Houston returned home late last night, Liam, my son and Eagle Scout Candidate and I would like to thank you all for the support and kind words. It was a privilege to have been associated with Honor Flight Houston, and to see my son pay his respects to those who served during WW2.
On Friday morning, Liam and I served as Ground Crew Guardians, at the Departure Ceremony at Hobby airport, while I also represented SAMVOUSA. I must say that the uniform that was so quickly forwarded onto me by our Australia contingent, was a total winner. Many people came up to ask who our organisation is, and why my son had a section up on his display showing two non US veterans. These \"Veterans\" write ups were that of my father and grandfather, who he had added to the display, to so show that many nations, including South Africa, had served in WW2. Many people had no idea that we (South Africa) have been an Alley of the USA since WW1, WW2 and Korea, It is unfortunate that so many only know of the negative, but through his display and answering questions posed, we were able to share just a small glimpse of what so many people have forgotten, or that others had not even realized.
Liam had requested that I assist him in the location and purchasing of a full set of 3'x5' US Military Flags (Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines, Air force, ad POW/MIA flags) that would be used as part of his display. These I donated on behalf of SAMVOUSA to the project. It is his hope that other scouts will take over his project and keep supporting Honor Flight, till we have no more veterans. As Liam told one of the visitors \" It's now our time to honour the memories of all servicemen and woman, preserve their memories - As the motto of Honor Flight goes - “We can not all be heroes, because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by.” – Will Rogers
Liam will compile a summary of the event, and will include a good number of photos of both of us, including me in the SAMVOUSA step outs, that others took of us.
Till we get the report in, I would like to thank you all for the support. I would like to say a very BIG THANK YOU to Charmaine (SAMVOUSA) and Tony (SAMVOA) for assisting me so much and getting the uniform to me so quickly. I regret that I could not get the SAMVOUSA banners and flags printed before this week ends display, but will have these up at future displays.
I have attached a few photos of this weekends activities.
Veteran William Atteridge
Project Gallery
