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28Summer2013ESPRITWhytheHonorFlightMeansSoMuchByLCplDonovanTurleyandLCplCatherineJohnsonBillingsMTBigSkyHonorFlightrecognizesthehardshipsoftheveteransofWorldWarIIaswellasotherveterans.WedothisbyprovidingthemwiththeopportunitytoseetheWorldWarIIMemorialandothermilitarymonuments.TheideaoftheHonorFlightwasconceivedbyEarlMorseaphysicianassistantandretiredAirForcecaptainasatributetothevet-eranstowhomheprovidedcare.InMay2005MorsearrangedforsixsmallplanestotransporttheveteranstoWashingtonDCtoseethememorialhonoringallwhoservedinthatwar.ThemissionofHonorFlightistorecognizeallsurvivingveteransbyyingthemtoatnocosttovisitWashingtontoseethememorials.ToppriorityisgiventoWorldWarIIandterminallyillveteransfromallwars.OneofthemanyveteransalreadyhelpedbyHonorFlightwasamannamedForrestKentMeyerswhosedyingwishwastogoontheHonorFlight.Meyershadservedinthe110thBattalionandwasawardedtheSilverStar.HetoldhisnurseThisisgoingtobetoughbutIhavetogettherenomat-terwhatittakes.Hisgoalwastolivethroughtheightandinfacthediedsixdaysafterreturninghomefromit.TheBillingsYoungMarineshavebeenassistingwiththisproject.Wehavebeenpresentingthecolorsparticipatinginraisingfundsfortheprojectandstandinginformationatairportstowelcometheseveteransbackhome.TheHonorFlighthasbeenabigpartofourlivestheselastcoupleofweeks.Whenweseethevet-eransitbringstearstooureyesespe-ciallywhentheylookbackattheYoungMarineswithsuchpride.Theymakeusfeelappreciated.Wecanseehowmuchthisopportunitymeanstothemandtheirfamilies.Notverymanypeoplewilltakeacouplehoursletaloneafewsecondstostopandthankaveteran.ProudtoPlayaHelpfulRoleByYMPvtPaytonMorrisonGeigerVAAttheQuanticoNationalCemeterytheGeigerYoungMarinesparticipatedintheMemorialDayCeremony.Wehadtosetupthechairsfortheevent.Everyonepickeduptwoormorechairstosetuptheseatsfortheguests.WhentheceremonystartedtheMa-rinestheYoungMarinesandotherassocia-tionsmarchedwiththecolors.EveryYoungMarinesalutedtheagasitwasgoingupandthentohalf-mast.OurunitalsohadthehonortoraisethePOWMIAagandtheVirginiastateag.Thiswasmyrsttimeraisingaag.Itwasaproudmomentforourunit.Towardstheendoftheceremonywhenitwastimetolaythewreathandgivehonorstothefallencomradesweallheardthegunrebutdidnotseeit.Oncetheceremonywasnishedweallpickedupthechairsandcleanedthearea.Itwasanicedaytocelebratetheservicememberswhodiedinthepastandpresentwars.ServingBreakfasttoThoseWhoServedUsByYMCplZacharyMarlandGeigerVAItistimetowakeupandstartbreakfast.ButtodayisnonormalSundayforourfam-ily.Itisanall-you-can-eatbreakfastofeggsomeletspancakesbaconsausagebiscuitsandgravytoasthashbrownsandcoffeeorjuice.Butwedontgettoeat...notyet.ItisbreakfasttimeatMickeyFinnsthatisourunitslocalMarineCorpsLeagueDetach-ment.OnceamonthourunitvolunteerstoservebreakfastatMickeyFinns.IlovemakingbreakfastandhelpingouttheveteransthereatMickeyFinns.Whenwepreparethefoodwerstprecookitandthenwhensomebodyasksforsomethingyup--weeventaketheirordersweputitonthestoveorgrillandcookitthoroughly.Afterwecookthefoodweputitonaplateandserveit.Whentheyaredonewecleanuptheirspotscrapetheplatesandwashthedishes.Whenweservethecustomerstheyseemalittleexcitedandtheyareniceaboutreceiv-ingtheirmeals.WhenthereisdowntimeMr.BillourunitcommanderwillcookforusandthenwecaneatallwewantIlikemixingtheeggsswabbingthedeckandmakingthefoodandputitontheplates--andofcourseeatingmorebreakfast.Myleastfavoritethingaboutvolunteeringthereisthelonghours.Thebestpartisthetips.AllofthemoneypeoplegiveusastipsiscollectedthroughouttheyearandourunitdonatesthismoneytosponsoralocalfamilyforChristmas.