Chairman’s Corner
All IHF Supporters-
Welcome to March-we hope the lamb of spring arrives soon so we can start to enjoy some nicer weather! Many of our crew have been dealing with colds and flu, perhaps some warmer weather will get everyone back to good health and moving at full speed. We are so very fortunate to have so many of our oldest Veterans still with us and we want them here for as long as possible. These men and women have lived history-take the time to listen to their stories while they are here, you will not be disappointed as you listen.
All Indy Honor Flight volunteers are in full-blown spring flight mode. The buses for the April flight are full and we begin Guardian training for the April flight this coming weekend. Our Bus Co-captains for May began making calls last week and are busy doing interviews with the next group of Hoosier heroes. Our Ground Crew will host another training session on April 10th, if you want to help with the spring flights as a new volunteer you must attend our safety training; this is how we keep our operations safe for everyone.
We are providing speakers for several civic groups this month, if your group would like to learn more about what we do please give us a call or drop us an email!
We were so very fortunate to have a fundraiser on March 8th hosted by the local Rotary Clubs. These wonderful people understand our mission and believe in service to others! The goal of the fundraiser was to help fund our October flight for 2019, adding a 4th flight for this year. I am very grateful to announce their efforts were successful and we have a flight scheduled for October 26th! Many people helped to organize this event and many other donated items for the auctions and made monetary donations. We are humbled by this outpouring of support and send heartfelt thanks to all involved.
The reality of our work as a completely donation-funded group is our fundraising efforts never end. After the two spring flight we will still have over 900 Veterans on our waiting list, with more applications coming in the mail very regularly. We are quite frugal spending our donations and unlike many non-profit organizations, we are 100% volunteer run-no one working for Indy Honor Flight gets paid. We are blessed with some of the best volunteers anywhere; our crew donates hundreds of hours to make each flight happen. We have enough Veterans right now to fill another 10 flights!
We love our work and look forward to meeting each new flight’s group of Veterans. We understand these men and women served our country during times of war and richly deserve a trip of thanks, respect and appreciation. Those who wore the cloth of our country served for each and every one of us,and many came home wrapped in the flag we all love so much. So many of our heroes did not get a welcome home-please attend our Homecoming celebrations for each of our flights so they get one now! Check out our important dates listed below.
See you on the curb!
Dale True, Chairman
Indy Honor Flight
Let’s Eat!
Veterans did you know we sponsor meals in four locations around the Central Indy area for any Veteran that has flown with us? Did you know that we also have guest speakers or entertainment at each meal? Click the link below and find the one closest to you and come out and break bread with us! Bring your Guardian too !
Link to IHF Monthly Meal Information just click on the CALENDAR tab for information on all IHF Events around town!
A few pictures from the January East Side Breakfast photo credit: Jeremy Oesterling
Healing begins at the Southside lunch!
The Southside Lunch showed the movie “Left Behind” about the articles that are left at the Vietnam Wall. Then our Vietnam Veterans in attendance were encouraged to share how they were treated when they returned home and how the Honor Flight helped them start to heal and how much they appreciated that gift. Photo credit: Jerry Vest
Extra, Extra read all about it…below!
We have extra IHF Photo Books Available for sale from Flight 28, October 2018: $20 + $3 shipping, Please call 317.559.1600 or email info@indyhonorflight.org if you are interested. Payments can be made via the donate on the website/mail a check to pay for them, great gifts for Guardians and other Family members.
Ground Crew – You will want to read this!
If you have ever worked the track to pick up trash then we have a deal for you. Look for more info coming to your email box regarding Cash 4 Trash!
IHF Out and About in 2019
- April 13th Flight #29 Homecoming Plainfield Highschool
- May 4th, Avon Cruise In – details to come
- May 18th Flight #30 Homecoming Decatur Central High School
- August 18th IHF 2019 Reunion – Plainfield High School – details to come!
- September 7th Flight #31 – Homecoming Plainfield Highschool
- October 26th Flight #32 – Homecoming TBD