Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
For two Madison County Veterans, Saturday, April 18 was a day they will never forget. Roy “Rip” Prine and Cole New-Smail, both Vietnam Era Veterans, had the privilege of participating in the 12th Honor Flight out of Tallahassee, Fla. to Washington D.C. While in Washington, they, along with 70 other Veterans spent a busy day visiting monuments and memorials, including Arlington National Cemetery, as well as other places around the city. Their day started early, at 4:30 a.m., in preparation for a 7 a.m. departure from the Tallahassee airport.
The Honor Flight program is active across the nation and provides Veterans an opportunity to travel to the nation’s capitol to visit monuments and memorials. “They do a fantastic job,” said Prine. Prine noted the assistance of Chik-fil-A, Arbys and Firehouse Subs in providing food for the Veterans, escorts and volunteers on the trip. Each Veteran on the trip is accompanied by a guardian/escort and medical personnel are also on hand during each trip. Since 2005, nearly 340,000 Veterans from across the nation have been honored. Flights out of Tallahassee take place once a year, but flights also depart from Jacksonville and other Florida cities. More information, including ways you can help honor Veterans with these life-changing experiences, can be found at www.honorflight.org.
One of the most moving moment for both Prine and New-Smail was a visit to the Vietnam Memorial with its notable wall containing the names of all those lost during the war. New-Smail recalled finding the name of a close friend from his youth who was lost during that era. Prine made an effort to obtain an etching of the name of Howard C. Barker, after whom the American Legion Post in Lee is named. One particularly moving monument for Prine was one dedicated to the women who served in Vietnam, most of whom were nurses who served in numerous military hospitals in Vietnam. “A lot of people don’t realize the sacrifices made by women, especially nurses, in the military during that time,” said Prine. “It meant a lot to me to see a monument in their honor.” In addition to visiting some of the nation’s most iconic monuments, the Veterans were greeted by Midshipmen from the Naval Academy, in Annapolis, Md. The Veterans on the trip were also treated to a “mail call” with cards and letters from family and friends and a “heroes welcome” when they returned to Tallahassee at close to 10 p.m.
Both Prine and New-Smail are active in the Howard C. Barker American Legion Post 422, in Lee. Their involvement in the American Legion Post helped connect them with the Honor Flight Network. If you know of a Veteran to honor with participation in the Honor Flight Network, please contact the American Legion Post 422 at 226 SE Lee School School Ave., in Lee. You can also send an email to info@honorflight.org.