By Rich Flowers News Editor
Behind a police and motorcycle escort, a group of World War II veterans pulled out of Athens Tuesday on their way to the nation’s capital.
The vets are the first Henderson County servicemen to board an Honor Flight headed for Washington, D.C. to view the World War II monument and other historic sites.
Honor Flights of America reaches veterans throughout the nation. There are various hubs scattered throughout the country. The Henderson County vets will be joining a group from Ellis County on the trip.
“The information the Ellis County people gave us was a Godsend,” said John Rhinehart, himself a World War II Army veteran who helped put together the Henderson County group. “I hope this is just the beginning.”
Rhinehart will make the trip along with several World War II veterans and their guardians. Joining him are:
• Harold Servetnick, Army, who helped organize the D.C.trip;
• James Parolini, Navy;
• Jack Hearn, Army;
• Verne H. Kling, Army Air Corps and his wife Cecelia; and
• John Osorio, Air Force and his wife Lois.
The Honor Flights are made at no charge to veterans.
Rhinehart said he would like to see more of the surviving World War II soldiers make the trip, and receive the accolades due them for their service. There are about 920 more World War II II vets in Henderson County, Rhinehard said.
“We’ve got our work cut out for us to get the funds to keep this program going,” Rhinehart said.
He gave special thanks to Jess Laird of First State Bank, Brad Pittman of Bacon Auto Ranch and Dennis Gilmore of the Henderson County performing arts center.
As the Henderson County group left the First State Bank parking lot, Tuesday, they were led by Athens Police, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office representatives and the Patriot Guard motorcycle team. They were scheduled to join the Ellis County travelers in Waxahatchie, before heading to the airport in Dallas.
Rhinehart became involved in Honor Flights after he learned of the success of the Ellis County trips.
The group that left Ellis County in May included veterans from several Texas locations. Organizers told the Athens Review in June that the veterans were shown great respect in commemoration of the sacrifices they made more than 60 years ago. In addition to the World War II Memorial, they visited the Korean War Memorial and the National Mall.
They were swamped by groups of school children and people of all ages who wanted to thank them, and have their pictures taken with them.
The itinerary of each trip changes a bit due to what events are taking place at the capitol, and what dignitaries are available. On the May trip, the veterans met Army Chief of Staff George Casey and others.
