Eastern Iowa Honor Flight looks to the future after its 50th flight

CEDAR RAPIDS — This year, the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight hit two new milestones: the election of its first female president, and its 50th flight on May 1.

President Lynette Voss, who served in the Navy Reserves for 10 years, previously acted as vice president and has been on the nonprofit’s board for four years.

The Eastern Iowa Honor Flight serves about 88 to 92 veterans on each spring and fall flights to Washington, D.C., where veterans experience camaraderie and an often emotional experience as they are honored throughout the nation’s capital during visits to war memorials, the Arlington National Cemetery and more.

The organization’s first flight was flown in 2009.

Vietnam War veterans wishing to go on an Honor Flight are advised to apply as soon as possible. The current wait time is about two years. To apply, donate or learn more about the organization, visit eihonorflight.org.

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Q: You’re the first female president of the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight. What kind of significance does this hold for you and the organization?

A: I get asked that question a lot lately.

I am proud to be able to have the leadership skills, and that the organization and the board trust me enough to carry that role. … I love the way women get more opportunities to do things like that. But I feel as though some of those barriers are really beginning to be torn down.

There are still barriers to be torn down. But I just feel really grateful that, at least (at) the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight, I don't think they look at (the position) as a man or a woman, per se.

I think moving forward, it'll just open up the opportunity for other volunteers to continue to step up, improve, earn the knowledge, and possibly have additional (female leaders) in the future. We certainly have several of them that would probably fit well in such a role.

Q: The Eastern Iowa Honor Flight recently took its 50th flight. What does this kind of milestone mean to your organization?

A: Over the last almost 15 years, we've taken 4,300 veterans to Washington, D.C. — just our Honor Flight hub alone. Being able to take those veterans to see those memorials, it's a pretty impactful day for them, especially some of those veterans who did not receive respect when they came home.

They were spit on or maybe they couldn't get a job because maybe they were in Vietnam, and people just weren't supportive of that. So I just think it's fantastic that we've been able to take 50 flights to Washington, D.C., and give veterans that opportunity that they may have never been able to see on their own.

And, allow the community that opportunity to say thank you. You know, it's 30 years, 40 years later, and (veterans) are just now finally able to receive that.

Q: A big part of your mission is getting folks to change how they see their own service, as well as rallying public support for veterans who have been overlooked for so many years. What stands out most to you about your mission and its impact?

A: Some people have held on to anger and resentment for several years. Some people either would try to forget about it, or for some that serve stateside, supporting the back end of those who went overseas, they're like, “Oh, well, I really didn't go to combat or I didn't go overseas, so I really shouldn't be honored.”

Anybody that finds their name on that line (to serve) gives the government the freedom to do with them as they choose. That’s impactful. When in D.C., we see so many veterans that are able to just release some of those emotions that they've had. So you can see the impact that it has on them.

But along with the community, I think what really has a big impact as well on the veterans is recognizing that people do appreciate what (veterans have) done. It's educating the community as well that these veterans have served us. What they've done or had to do is not always their choice. That goes along with signing your name on that line.

I've seen and I've heard a lot of stories from veterans where maybe it's the first time that they've talked about a traumatic experience. And they're telling one of the volunteers or one of the staff for the first time … and it just releases some of that pressure.

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Q: How have you seen the Honor Flight evolve over its last 50 flights to better serve veterans and make an impact?

A: They're always looking at the current process, what could they do differently, what could they improve on, what could we have done differently. That foundation is very solid. So we're just able to build on top of that and improve the experience that we're able to offer.

Our Eastern Iowa Honor Flight does send some board members or coordinators to Summit once a year. That's where National Honor Flight allows people to get together and talk about what works for their hub and what doesn't.

We’re just making sure that as we move into the future, not only on our flight as a whole, but for us as a hub. … We want to continue to be a highly respected organization so that when people hear about it, they get that positive feeling.

I just see us continuing to improve our processes, whether it be behind the scenes or on the day of flight to make the experience (better) for the veterans.

Q: Given the generational shifts happening over time with veterans being served on Honor Flights, what is your vision going forward?

A: We are finding it more difficult to get the World War II veterans. We were fortunate to have two on this spring flight, but we've had a flight season without any World War II veterans.

Korean veterans, we're still seeing usually around 10 to 12 (per flight.)

But when you're talking about a flight of 90 veterans, it does leave the Vietnam era that is being serviced right now. Right now, we're not servicing (veterans) after the Vietnam era, unless there is some kind of (reason) that needs to be expedited.

But one thing that we're really finding (challenging,) especially with the Vietnam veterans, is that thought process that they have — “Oh, I don't deserve to do that,” or a lot of them are like, “I want nothing to do with looking at that Vietnam Wall.”

We see health declining so quickly (in Vietnam War veterans) that younger veterans are having some of those medical issues or elements that are requiring them to be expedited, to get on a flight sooner.

In Iowa there were 115,000 Vietnam veterans. So we have a lot of Vietnam veterans still to reach. Our goal is … going to be recruiting and reaching out to those Vietnam veterans.

Q: Is there a change in mentality that comes with serving mostly Vietnam veterans effectively?

A: We're already seeing a transition in the health of them. For instance, a lot of the World War II and Korean veterans still have fairly good mobility.

The Vietnam generation, their mobilities (are generally) a little less, or they've been exposed to Agent Orange. (We’re seeing) dementia, Parkinson's, all that stuff at an earlier age. So we're adapting our flights to accommodate a little bit more of that.

We’re trying to get that generation convinced that they should go on an Honor Flight.

We've heard feedback from some families that their dad or grandpa was always kind of mean. Nobody really wanted to be around and they're always negative Nellies. Then they went on this flight and they came back and they were … a different person. So it has that effect.

Then, of course, for us to continue serving those veterans in those quantities, it's just our continued efforts to fundraise, because we are 100 percent volunteer-run. All of the funds do go to the flight, except for some administrative fees that are very minimal.

Q: How much does it cost to make each flight happen?

A: Each flight is around $100,000 to $120,000. It continues to go up, with the cost of everything these days.

We do ask for a donation from guardians that go with us. Veterans do not pay a dime to go.

Q: What is one of the most misunderstood things about our veterans, and how has your organization helped shine a light on that?

A: I think it's the veterans just realizing that they are appreciated for what they've done and to communicate to them that our freedom is because of those who have fought for our country. I think that's the biggest impact that we're make making on veterans — just to let them know that they are appreciated and give them that “thank you.”

It’s so simple, but that is it.

Comments: Features reporter Elijah Decious can be reached at (319) 398-8340 or elijah.decious@thegazette.com.