With the new copies of the new HONOR FLIGHT photo book in hand, I headed down to visit with Central Missouri Honor Flight who is featured in a couple of pages on Arlington Cemetery. It was nice to finally have a finished product.  Editing over 70,000 images proved a more difficult task than I had imagined. I am using these blogs to isolate picture for future projects.

Steve Paulsell, President of Central Missouri Honor Flight reviews the new book

I first went to the Vietnam Memorial to meet by author buddy Michele Sprye who as usual had left from the airport and gone directly to the Vietnam Memorial where she and Park Service Volunteers Bob Fano and Dan Arant were working with her to make "rubbings" from the Wall.

Michele Sprye at Korea Memorial with volunteers Bob Fano and Dan Arant. 20180426-IMG_3832Michele Sprye at Korea Memorial

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Sharon Paulsell and her son with Gunnery Sgt at the WWII Memorial

They are bound in a special envelope with information on the deceased and the Wall itself which is given to families at homecoming...and they do have a homecoming.  I-70 is closed for twenty five miles as are all of the adjacent roads for the three to five hundred motorcyclists who greet the flights and travel from the airport to him base with the buses. 

Why we fly

Sharon Paulsell's son Sam was volunteering to accompany a veteran and so the Missouri hub is a family affair with the President being Mary Paulsell, sister of Steve Paulsell (Trip Leader) who is the husband of Sharon Paulsell (Trip Coordinator).  A tight ship.  It's interesting to see how the hubs differ--in personnel, fund raising strategies, training and homecoming. 
Angela Barnes Bennett, ace photographer and ambassador of good will. Sharon Paulsell and her son with Gunnery Sgt at the WWII Memorial Two Missourians greeting the flight. Wheelchair ramps

Sharon Paulsell and her son with Gunnery Sgt at the WWII Memorial Congressman who came out to greet. Sharon Paulsell and her son with Gunnery Sgt at the WWII Memorial Sharon Paulsell and her son with Gunnery Sgt at the WWII Memorial Sharon Paulsell and her son with Gunnery Sgt at the WWII Memorial Sharon Paulsell and her son with Gunnery Sgt at the WWII Memorial