Veterans make large donation to support Honor Flight

By Brad Meyer
Published: 03.02.09
MONTGOMERY – A large donation from members of a local veterans group will help ensure their World War II comrades receive the honor they are due.

Members of the Marine Corps League, Eastex Detachment 779 donated $10,000 to the Lone Star Honor Flight, a program that pays tribute to Montgomery County World War II vets by flying them to Washington D.C. to visit military monuments and memorials.

“We strongly believe there are few programs more meaningful than Lone Star Honor Flight,” Eastex Detachment Commandant Scott Bartholomew said. “It’s an honorable program to support and we are glad to be part of it.”

LSHF, created by Montgomery Junior High School teacher Brenda Beaven, was the first program of its kind in Texas. Area businesses and organizations quickly jumped in to support the effort.

“We’re losing so many people from ‘America’s Greatest Generation’ as time goes by,” Beaven said. “Without some assistance, most of these men would never get to see the World War II memorial built to honor them.”

LSHF flew almost 100 veterans and 50 supporters nearly a year ago to Washington D.C. The trip was considered a major success by veterans and organizers despite a sudden thunderstorm that left everyone drenched.

“It was an amazing experience – filled with pride and emotion,” Dave Hughes, a veteran who survived the attack on Pearl Harbor, said. “All of the veterans were very grateful for the opportunity.”

Plans for a second trip May 9 are even bigger, Deidra Bussell, one of the organizers, said.

“We’ve arranged for a bigger aircraft so we can take up to 150 veterans this year,” she said. “We are very appreciative of the support from the Eastex Detachment.”

Fundraising efforts continue to make certain the trip goes off as planned.

One upcoming event is a “family night” with pizza, soft drinks and music March 12 at the KOA Campground on Texas 105 West in Montgomery. Barry Michael will perform beginning at 7 p.m. Admission is $10 per person or $25 per family.

The next night on March 13, Barry Michael will perform at Papa’s on Lake Conroe. Admission is free, but donations are welcome and barbecue will be sold to help raise money for the cause.

“Our ongoing goal is to continue honoring Montgomery County veterans,” Bussell said. “When all of the World War II veterans have had an opportunity to go, we’d like to honor our Korean War veterans.”

While the Eastex Detachment is comprised of Marine and Navy Corpsmen, Bartholomew said the organization supports veterans of every branch of service.

“We’re supporting not only the Marines, but veterans from all the other branches of service who wish they were Marines,” he said.

For more information on LSHF and ways to get involved, call (936) 582-6400 or visit www.misd.org and look for the Lone Star Honor Flight link.

At a glance

Organizers with the Lone Star Honor Flight, which honors World War II veterans with a free trip to Washington D.C. to see military monuments built in their honor, are planning the program’s second trip for May 9. Fundraising events are planned at 7 p.m. March 12 at the KOA Campground in Montgomery and March 13 at Papa’s on Lake Conroe. For more information, call (936) 582-6400 or visit www.misd.org and look for the Lone Star Honor Flight link.

Ellie