Posted on Apr 22, 2019
Pictured between President Kathryn and Retired Fire Chief David Sayles is Dora Vasques-Hellner.  Dora served in the Army for 23 years and has been teaching Spanish at Westerly High School for the past ten years.  She prepared a video presentation of the first all-women Honor Flight to Washington, DC on April 6th.  This Honor Flight included 44 veterans and their guardians - all women.  The veterans "represented all branches of the military service and served during World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and other military operations since then.  The oldest was 96 years old and youngest was 35 years old.  "Saturday's Honor Flight was conducted in memory of Marine Lance Cpl. Holly Charette of Cranston, who was 21 years old when she was killed on 23 June 2005, when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive detonated near her convoy vehicle in Fallujah, Iraq.  The shirts worn by the veterans and their guardians had patches with a photograph of Holly.
 
They began their trip at Warwick Fire Station 8 and were escorted by police, firefighters and motorcyclists to T. F. Green Airport.  "The Rhode Island Professional Firefighters Pipes & Drums and members of the Providence Police Pipes & Drums welcomed the group, along with police and fire department color guards, Scouts and family members."
 
They were greeted in Washington by former US Senators Bob and Elizabeth Dole, US Army Surgeon General Lt General Nadja West, Lt General Jacqueline Van Ovost (director of staff at US Air Force Headquarters at the Pentagon, US Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, and Senior US Senator Jack Reed from Rhode Island.  The New England Patriots provided swag bags for all the women and dinner before their return to T F Green Airport late Saturday evening.  The General Federation of Women's Clubs raised about $15,000 to help underwrite the cost of the flight. 
 
The national organization of Honor Flight was founded in 2005 after the completion of the World War II Memorial with a goal to "America's most senior heroes - survivors of World War II and any veteran with a terminal illness who wishes to visit THEIR memorial."  The program has expanded to include veterans of the Korean War, Vietnam War and all other veterans who served, on a chronological basis.  "Since America felt it was important to build a memorial to the service and the ultimate sacrifice of her veterans, the Honor Flight Network believes it's equally important that they actually get to visit and experience their memorial."   In Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs have formed a non-profit organization "RIFC Honor Flight Hub" which began its mission to transport veterans to Washington, DC in August 2012.  Since then they have had 21 Honor Flights, "transporting 479 WWII veterans, 99 Korean War veterans and 5 Vietnam War veterans" - all free of charge.  Within our own Rotary Club members and family - Joe Nigrelli, Walter Kimball and Dave Mann.
 
There will be a presentation on Channel 12 (WPRI) Thursday evening at 5:00pm by Mike Montecalvo who accompanied the women.
The RIFC Honor Flight Hub relies totally on donations to make these flights possible.  For more information, please go to https://rihonorflight.com.  You can send a tax-deductible donation payable to RI Honor Flight and mail to RI Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub, PO Box 28132, Providence RI 02908
 
Some of the information above came from the RIFC website and the Warwick Beacon.
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