MetaVR Sponsors Honor Flight

On Sunday May 22, 2011, MetaVR sponsored a group of 64 veterans from Honor Flight New England on their Honor Flight to visit the World War II Memorial and other memorials in Washington, D.C. 

Honor Flight New England at the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C.

Honor Flight New England is part of the national organization Honor Flight Network and is a non-profit organization created solely to honor America's veterans for all of their sacrifices. Through generous donations veterans have the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., to visit and reflect at their memorials at no personal expense. Top priority is given to the senior veterans – World War II survivors, along with those other veterans who may be terminally ill. The program is recognized as a concrete way of expressing gratitude for the service and sacrifice of US military men and women -- past, present, and future.  

On May 22, W. Garth Smith from MetaVR joined Joseph F. Byron (founder of Honor Flight New England) and his volunteer staff, and 64 veterans on a chartered Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 for the trip from Boston MA to visit the memorials in Washington D.C. With MetaVR’s financial sponsorship of each veteran on the flight, this trip was a milestone for Joe Byron and his staff, as it was their first opportunity to charter an entire flight. (Previous Honor Flight events had been limited to groups of 10 to 15 veterans with travel on regularly scheduled flights.) 

A video crew accompanied the Honor Flight group for the day and recorded the thoughts and personal remembrances of a few of the veterans. The videos are available below, in Windows Media Format (.wmv). Click a thumbnail image below to play a video recorded interview:

	Robert Klein		Leonard Chanpa		Gregg Wyse		Harvey Lafleur		Eugene Galuska

Each veteran was accompanied by a volunteer, or guardian (family member or program volunteer), who traveled at his or her own expense and offered assistance to the veteran for the duration of the trip.

At Logan and BWI airports.

At Boston's Logan International Airport, the State Police, the Massport fire and emergency staff, the TSA staff, Southwest Airlines staff, and other airport staff greeted the veterans warmly and provided comfortable and supportive arrangements as needed. Arriving at BWI airport in Baltimore, the Honor Flight group was greeted by a large celebratory welcoming crowd and then transported by buses to Washington DC.

The veterans’ first stop was the World War II Memorial, which for many was an important start to the day with its peaceful expanse and reflecting pool. 

At the World War II Memorial.

The day progressed with visits to the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, and the Vietnam Memorial Wall.

 
At the Korean and Viet Nam Memorials.

At Arlington National Cemetery, special seating was provided to the veterans to observe the changing of the guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

At Arlington National Cemetery, watching the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

The day drew to a close with visits to the Marine Memorial and then to the site of the Air Force Memorial, with its panoramic views of the city and soaring arches. The Honor Flight group returned to Baltimore and then flew on to Boston after a full, active day.

Patrick Murphy, one of the volunteers, sums up the arrival back in Boston, "On reaching Boston we were again met at the gate by an enormous, cheering crowd.  We once again were honored by the State Police, the Mass Port Fire and Emergency Staff, the TSA staff, other airport staff, and the always-gracious Southwest Airlines staff, each group doing their part to escort us with honors towards home.  Perhaps most moving though was the reaction of the other late-night travelers in the terminal area.  All of them seemed to come forward to line our route to the bus loading area.  As I looked from face to face in the crowd what was most amazing was to hear the intensity of the clapping, and to see the tears streaming down the cheeks of some of those strangers, coincidentally traveling at the same time.  As they looked upon our parade of veterans perhaps they were seeing fathers or mothers now gone, or grandfathers, and grandmothers gone before they had a chance to know them.  But always they reached out, “Thank you, sir; thank you for your service.”

We at MetaVR express our sincere appreciation for the opportunity to support the efforts of Honor Flight New England. MetaVR develops software that helps our servicemen and women prepare for their crucial role in protecting our freedom and preserving world peace.  Every day we work proudly to deliver our product with a full understanding of its importance in saving lives and accomplishing missions.  And, while doing so, we are grateful to these members of our armed forces, our friends and family members among them, for responding to the same call to duty that has sounded for previous generations. Consistent with our strong commitment to those in active service and in harms way, we celebrate and honor those that have served before them.  In doing so, we give thanks to all members of our military forces past, present, and future.

Page credits: Joe Byron of Honor Flight New England (photographs), videographer Jim Kreidler (videos and photographs), and volunteer Patrick Murphy (information about the event and a photograph).