REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- One U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command employee is among the 40 guardians selected out of 800 applicants to accompany World War II veterans on the final Tennessee Valley Honor Flight scheduled for Sept. 11.
Sophia Malone, a human resource specialist with the command and 11-year-veteran in her own right, will accompany retired Army Lt. Col. Ed Ottman, Navy Technical Sgt. 5 Gene Mahoney and Army veteran Leonard Brooks on their flight to visit the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.
"We are losing so many World War II veterans every day. Before it's too late, they must know how the American people appreciate their service," Malone said. "I wanted to do my part and volunteer to make this a memorable trip for these men and women to visit the memorial dedicated to honor their sacrifices."
According to current Veterans Affairs statistics, 850 World War II veterans are estimated to die every day. There were 16 million who served during World War II, and as of Sept. 30, 2009, only 2,272,000 are estimated to remain - approximately 10 percent of the veteran population.
"My father was an Iwo Jima Marine," said Joe Fitzgerald, president and founder of Tennessee Valley Honor Flight. "He died in 1991. Like most World War II veterans, he died never knowing that there would ever be a World War II memorial built in his honor. I began the program to recognize those deceased veterans and the ones still living."
The memorial opened April 29, 2004, nearly 60 years after World War II ended, and most veterans will never get the opportunity to see it, according to Fitzgerald. This is why he started the Tennessee Valley Honor Flight chapter. Since the chapter's inception in 2007, 1,207 veterans and 250 burial flags have flown on 11 flights to the World War II memorial. This final flight will bring the totals to 1,310 veterans and 299 burial flags.
Malone's honoree, Ottman, is a 22-year veteran, who initially was not interested in making the trip to the memorial, according to his daughter. As the day draws closer though, he said he is excited to meet with his veteran brothers. Ottman was highly decorated, his awards include the Purple Heart, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal, World War II victory medal, Good Conduct Medal, and many others. In addition, after leaving military service he became a civil service employee at Redstone Arsenal and was one of the founding members of the Solid Waste Disposal project. The other two veterans Malone will accompany on the flight will join with their guardians in Washington.
"Guardians are critical to the safety, health and happiness of each World War II veteran," Fitzgerald said. "The guardian ensures that this is one of the best days of the veteran's life."
And according to Mike Measels, director of Guardians, Tennessee Valley Honor Flight, this is the only chapter that provides one guardian for every honoree.
"A guardian's primary role is providing for the safety of his or her honoree," Measels said. "Every Huntsville guardian receives four hours of mandatory training. The basic training consists of each guardian's responsibilities to his or her honoree and the program and safety and medical considerations."
"Each guardian must not have any medical or physical disability that would prevent him or her from providing care for the honoree, be able to lift or assist with 100 pounds and be capable of standing and walking for a prolonged time," Measels said. "One point I stress in training is that I want all guardians to 'be a buddy for the day and a friend for a lifetime.'"
Malone, who attended the last honor flight standing in the flag line as a Patriot Guard Rider, said her grandfather, Kenneth Richardson, was a World War II veteran and inspired her life of service.
"He didn't share many of his experiences, but the few he did inspired me," Malone said. "I wish he was still here with us to view this memorial. While speaking to several veterans during the last honor flight, I was in awe of the amazing spirit of our World War II veterans. I cannot express the gratitude I have for all our veterans."
Fitzgerald said that guardians and honorees frequently strike up friendships that last long after each honor flight.
"All guardians are angels," he said. "Certainly, in serving these members of our nation's greatest generation, they have chalked up many, many merits in heaven."
Carrie.E.David@us.army.mil
Author's Note: The Tennessee Valley Honor Flight's Honor Flags Ceremony will begin at 5 p.m., Friday on the tarmac at Signature Aviation. The Departure Ceremony will begin at 5 a.m., Saturday at the Huntsville Airport main terminal and will feature the Huntsville Concert Band, vocalist Mitchell Brown, the Redstone Color Guard, and free coffee and donuts. The Welcome Home Ceremony will begin at 9 p.m., Saturday, also at the Huntsville Airport main terminal. The public is invited, and parking for all three events is free.
Social Sharing