Page 20 - August 2015 Life In Naples Magazine

COLLIER COUNTY VETERANS AND GUARDIANS
MISSION 6 WWII
HONOR FLIGHT
Recognizing our local heroes

by Kelly G. Cooper

T he Second World War was the most widespread and deadliest completed. The flights have consisted of 50 - 75 veterans with the
conflict in history. Over 16 million brave men and women put oldest being 101 years old. Collier County Honor Flight intends
America first and fought for humanity. It is hard to imagine that to provide three flights per year accommodating up to 75 veterans
in less than 10 years most of our World War II veterans will be gone. Not each mission.
only is it our duty as fellow Americans, but our privilege as a nation to
express our gratefulness for these heroes who preserved the liberty of our Our freedom came at a high cost and it is our patriotic duty
great nation during the most threatening of times.Thanks to these WWII to acknowledge those who are responsible for preserving our
courageous veterans, America, Europe and the majority of the Pacific is sovereignty. Collier County Honor Flight is an example to follow,
free today. local community helping local people. Get involved, you can make
a difference in the final chapter of our veteran’s lives. If you know
The non-profit organization, Honor Flight Network was established someone who is a WWII veteran or a veteran with a terminal
to honor America’s veterans for all of their sacrifices and accomplishments. illness, help make their dream a reality where they can experience
The goal is for all veterans to receive the thanks and welcome home they “their last hurrah”and know their country has not forgotten them.
may have never received. This includes an all-expense paid day trip to
Washington D.C. where the veterans are transported and escorted by For further information please contact the Collier
volunteer guardians to memorials built in their honor. Each guardian gets County Honor Flight at 239.777.9295 or via email at
to know their veteran before the trip and ensures all passes, IDs, medical colliercountyhonorflight@gmail.com. You can also visit their
requirements, etc., are in line to ensure a safe and seamless unforgettable Facebook page Collier County Honor Flight for photos and
experience. Since its creation the Honor Flight Network has expanded to upcoming events.
include Korean War and Vietnam War veterans.
RICH AND JEREMY
Naples residents and veterans Dr. Debi Strand and her husband Sean
Lux attended the documentary on Honor Flight at the Philharmonic
and thought “this is amazing, how can we get involved?” Initially they
volunteered and served as guardians to veterans aged 90 and 96, who were
on a waiting list for two years. “No veteran should have to wait on the
waiting list for two years to go on an Honor Flight that they deserve,
because their memorial was not built until 2004. These veterans were
already 80 years old when this was built for them.”On September 25,2013
this power couple brought a program to Collier County and launched the
first mission just six weeks later. As of press date six missions have been

20 Life in Naples | August • September • October 2015