‘It’s about time’: Maine veterans embark on Honor Flight to our nation’s capital

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) - Friday was the start of an unforgettable trip for 78 Maine veterans.

They and their guardians are off to our nation’s capital to see the war memorials dedicated to their service. It’s all thanks to Honor Flight Maine.

“I’ve been looking forward to this for an awful long time,” said Vietnam veteran Martin Vogel of Jackson. “It was not a very good welcome home the last time, so yeah, it’s about time.”

The veterans range in age from 76 to 96 and are traveling to Bangor from all across our state.

“There’s someone here as far south as Scarborough, and a lot of people from the greater Augusta area are here. They’re all surprised that we’ve had the opportunity to have this event in Bangor. I am truly thankful to the organizers who have made the commitment to add this extra location here and be able to serve the folks north of Portland,” said Brigadier General Diane Dunn.

Jannette McFarland made the trip from Southern Maine. She’s a guardian for her dad, a veteran from Jonesboro, who served in the Vietnam War.

“He lost some good friends there, so it makes him a little overwhelmed with this because he earned a Purple Heart while he was there, so this is a huge honor for me to go with my dad,” McFarland said.

On Saturday, the veterans will visit and reflect at the war memorials dedicated to their service.

Alola Morrison, the only female veteran on the flight, is excited to make the trip with her son, Mark.

“It’s different than just going with your husband and looking it over generally, and that was impressive, but this is going to be more impressive,” Morrison told WABI.

“It really is an honor,” said her son, Mark. “The more that I talk to folks and hear their stories of service and my mom being in the military in the 70s and 80s, when women were just starting to come onto the scene, it really puts it into perspective. I’ve always been proud of my mom, but this really kind of brings it home.”

The inaugural flight from Bangor is one of four free trips Honor Flight Maine has planned this year.

Their mission is to send every Maine veteran to Washington, D.C.

Matthew Mank, Chairman of the Board of Directors, says there will be plenty of smiles and stories told this weekend.

There will be some tears shed, too.

“There’s a lot of healing that takes place,” Mank said. “We’ll ask them what their favorite time was, and it is the time they spend sitting at the table sharing their stories of when they were together in Vietnam, or maybe at the same time,e but just separate points. And then to be at the wall. And many times, on the weekend, there is a Vietnamese family there that will help them make the name rubbing and just saying “thank you” for giving me a country, and that just really touches the veterans’ hearts.”

Our nation’s heroes and their guardians will return to Bangor on Sunday, where they will be greeted with a Welcome Home Celebration at the Maine Army National Guard hangar, located off Maine Avenue in Bangor, at 2 p.m. Doors open at noon.

Darling’s Ice Cream for a Cause Truck will be serving ice cream from 2-4 p.m., and 100% of the donations collected will support Honor Flight Maine.

Please note: Valid government-issued identification is required for entry to the military facility, and all persons and vehicles are subject to being searched. Federal law prohibits the possession of firearms, other dangerous weapons, and illegal substances in Federal facilities- please leave all prohibited items at home.

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