Rocky Mountain Honor Flight

The Rocky Mountain Honor Flight makes four trips each year to Washington, D.C.  Each Honor Flight has 30 veterans from World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam War.  These veterans are honored guests and make the trips at no cost to them.  They are treated as the Heroes and VIP’s that they truly are.  The veterans are accompanied by 23-25 Guardians, many of whom are veterans themselves.  Guardians pay their own way on the flights.  The job of the Guardians is to ensure the safety, comfort and well-being of the veterans.  Guardians provide physical as well as emotional support for these men and women who have selflessly sacrificed for our country and the freedoms we enjoy.

The most recent Rocky Mountain Honor Flight was Number 46 and took place April 18-20.  We had one World War II veteran, three Korean War veterans and 26 Vietnam War veterans on the flight.  Three of our veterans were women.

It is a humbling and emotional experience to be with these brave men and women for the three days of the trip and to get to know them and to hear their stories.  They don’t view themselves as heroes, but rather as proud Americans, “just doing their job.”  The bonding of these veterans is immediate and everlasting.  Each one of them left their home, their families and friends, put on a uniform and went off to serve our country.  Each of them experienced events that can’t be adequately explained to someone that hasn’t shared similar experiences.

If you are an eligible veteran or would like to help fund future Honor Flights, please go to the website www.rockymountainhonorflight.org and sign up.  We receive no government or outside funding for the flights and we are a 501 (c) (3) organization.

Our next flight is May 23-25.  We will be arriving at DIA around 6:30 pm on Saturday, the 25th.  You are welcome to come out to the arrival hall at DIA to experience the wonderful welcome home for the veterans.

The Honored Veterans, or “Red Shirts” of the Rocky Mountain Honor Flight’s 46th Honor Flight are ready to board their private train at DIA.

We were greeted at BWI Airport by the Town Crier and the Ground Crew of Honor Flight and then escorted to the bus taking us to our hotel.

We’re ready to go!  Honored Veterans in their red shirts and Guardians in blue shirts.

Ready for breakfast!

At the Colorado pillar of the World War II Memorial are L-R: Danny Tomlinson; 97-year old WWII veteran Gene Jiggetts; Col. Mike Lowe; and Henry Jones.

The Lonesome Sailor at the Navy Memorial.

At the Vietnam Wall.

Korean War veteran Chuck Cline and World War II veteran Gene Jiggetts at the FDR Memorial.

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Eugene Jiggetts and Colonel of Marines Mike Lowe.

Arlington National Cemetery.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Honored Veterans and Guardians of Rocky Mountain Honor Flight.

The Tomb Guard executing his turn.

The Honored Veterans of the Rocky Mountain Honor Flight at the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial.