When local leaders throughout Southern New Mexico realized many World War II Veterans would never have the chance to visit the Washington Memorial built in their honor, they stepped up and made a dream a reality.

Honor Flight was created to send WWII Veterans to the Washington Memorial free of charge – something Judges Leslie Smith and Robert Brack wanted to be a part of. The two judges, founders of the local Honor Flight of Southern New Mexico (HFSNM), recruited a board of men and women to help, including Gary Lenzo, Patsy Duran, Denton Holmes, Jag Cheema, Pat Carr, Bill Mattiace, Caree Contreras, Steven Alexander, Dolores Connor and Dolores Archuleta.

The board worked diligently to raise $65,000, the cost to send 40 veterans to the Washington Memorial, while the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico served as the fiscal agent. On October 7, 2008, area veterans received an honor many never thought they would receive.

The trip showed both extraordinary volunteer spirit and community dedication, with 125 generous donors reaching deep into their pockets to make a difference in the lives of others. Because of the board’s hard work, donations from business members in addition to community donations came flooding in. Jeff O’Brien of Arroyo Medical Supply donated 10 wheelchairs for the trip, making transportation for the veterans, many in their 80s, easier. New Mexico State University leadership under Ben Woods and members from the local U.S. Army and the Air Force ROTC were available to load the motor coach at 3 a.m. the morning of October 7.

In addition to the generous financial support, guardians volunteered and paid their own way to help WWII Veterans during the trip, including Drs. Tony Levatino and John Glick.

“Over 25 guardians paid their own expenses to love and care for the World War II Veterans from the moment we departed on October 7 to our return October 8,” Bill Mattiace, chairman of the HFSNM Board, says. “Veterans like Bindy Trujillo, Stuart
Meerscheidt and Felix Provencio made sure every veteran was accounted for as we moved through the airports, restaurants and the World War II Memorial.”

The next flight is planned for October 2009 if adequate funds are raised. This flight will depart El Paso and arrive at Reagan National Airport to a grand salute welcoming the veterans to Washington, D.C. From there, the veterans will visit the WWII Memorial before returning to El Paso.

Currently there are 74 WWII Southern New Mexico Veterans on a waiting list to see the memorial and more money needs to be raised to send them.

“We owe it to these veterans to get them to that memorial,” Bill says. “By donating to this cause we are showing each of them how much we appreciate our freedom and what they did for America.”

Honor Flight began when Earl Morse, a physician assistant and retired Air Force captain, worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs in a clinic. There he realized most WWII Veterans would never see the monument, so he began to set up free trips using public contributions. Now, HFSNM continues his vision by sending local men and women. Through generous donations, HFSNM can send community WWII Veterans to the Washington Monument by covering the costs of flight arrangements made by the National Honor Flight office in Washington, D.C.