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Photo by Kaylee Cook/Staff Lauch “Lock” Magruder and Paul Schowalter, were two of 91 veterans to take an honor flight, organized by Blue Ridge Honor Flights in Hendersonville.
Highlands residents, Lauch “Lock” Magruder and Paul Schowalter, were two of 91 veterans to take an honor flight, organized by Blue Ridge Honor Flights in Hendersonville, to the nation’s capital on April 23.
“They were a delight to have on the flight,” Flight Coordinator JoAnn Naeger said. “It’s such a privilege for us to be able to do this because it honors the veterans. And particularly in the case of the Vietnam and Korean War veterans as well. We’re trying to help heal some of the wounds from the welcome home [they] didn’t get when [they] came back from the war.”
According to their website, Blue Ridge Honor Flights began in February of 2007 when Hendersonville dry cleaning company owner, Jeff Miller, and Ohio physician’s assistant, Earl Morse, merged their individual organizations to create the Honor Flight Network. As the project began to spread across Western North Carolina, the organization’s name was officially changed to Blue Ridge Honor Flights in September of 2016. The organization’s mission is to take as many veterans as possible to see the memorials in Washington D.C. and to provide them with the homecoming they deserve, especially Vietnam veterans.
“In our case, the Vietnam veterans were not welcomed home at all,” Schowalter said. “And now some wonderful people have put together this trying to make up for somewhat of a slight on the veterans at that time. And as far as I’m concerned, they have done a marvelous job.”
The flight, which is a one-day experience, begins at 6:30 a.m. in Asheville Regional Airport. From there, the veterans are treated to a breakfast from McDonalds before the group takes off for Baltimore-Washington International. After a 45-minute bus ride into Washington D.C. the veterans congregate on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial for a brief welcome ceremony from a one or two star general of one of the branches.
The ceremony includes a color guard formation and wreath presentations for each of the wars. According to Naeger, one veteran from each conflict is selected to do the wreath presentation. Once the ceremony is concluded, the veterans are given the opportunity to visit the different war memorials.
“After that the veterans have over an hour to go to their memorials to spend time at the Vietnam wall or, for Korean veterans, they can go to the Korean Memorial,” Naeger said. “Pre pandemic, we had done a brief driving tour of Washington, but the pandemic and the shortage of police officers changed that support. So generally, we give the veterans time to walk down along the reflecting pool to the World War Two Memorial and spend some time there. Then we go to Arlington and witnessed the changing of the guard.”
Of the 91 veterans who participated, there was one World War Two veteran, three Korean War veterans, including Magruder, and 87 Vietnam War veterans, including Schowalter. The veterans were given an up-close view of the changing of the guard, and according to Schowalter, the experience was one of his favorite parts of the trip.
“We went to the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and we watched the changing of the guard and they gave us a spot that was right close to where the honor guard marches in front of the tomb,” Schowalter said. “And when the sergeant of the guard was marching in front of us veterans, he had metal tacks on his shoes, and he would click them and we found out that was a salute that he was giving to the veterans. So that was sort of special.”
Additionally, the veterans were welcomed to Washington and back home with full fanfare, including a fireworks display as they were landing back in Asheville and a crowd of around 1,100 to 1,200 individuals to welcome them back home.
“I think it’s a very nice acknowledgment for your service and that people remember and still have an interest in you as an individual,” Magruder said.
All honor flights conducted by Blue Ridge Honor Flight are completely free to every veteran who participates. Guardians are allowed to accompany veterans, however, the organization cannot guarantee that all guardian applicants will be selected, as there is a limited number of seats available. The cost for a guardian is $400 each.
“I would like to encourage all veterans to participate, and especially Vietnam veterans,” Magruder said. “I think it’s so important to try to overcome the horrible treatment they received when they actually came back home.”
The organization wishes to locate as many veterans as possible to take the flight for themselves. Veteran and guardian applications are currently being accepted for the October flight and can be found online. Additionally, Blue Ridge Honor Flights is a 501(c)(3) organization and always welcomes donations and sponsorships to help keep the flights free for any and all veterans. For more information or to apply or make a donation, visit blueridgehonorflight.com.
- By Kaylee Cook