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Saying thank you to veterans

Bartel volunteers on Old Glory Honor Flight

By Holly Neumann


Janna Bartel has always enjoyed working with veterans and listening to their stories, but she has always wanted to do more for them.

Five years ago, the Manawa resident volunteered to be a guardian on the Old Glory Honor Flight, so when she received an email on July 30 to ask if she was still interested, she jumped at the chance, with the encouragement of her family who told her she needed to go.

After attending a mandatory training session to learn exactly what was expected of her, Bartel was ready to take part in the 55th mission of the Old Glory Honor Flight that took off from Appleton on Sept. 15.

“My role during the trip was to ensure that every veteran had a safe and memorable experience,” Bartel said. “Guardians are responsible to physically assist two veterans during their Honor Flight.”

Bartel was matched with one U.S. Army and one U.S. Navy veteran.

“I called them both to let them know I would be with them for the day,” she said. “They were both excited. We talked and learned a little bit about each other.”

The three met for the first time at Appleton International Airport on the day of their flight.

“On the plane we learned more about each other,” Bartel said. “This was my chance to learn more about their service to our country.”

Although this was Bartel’s second trip to Washington, D.C., she said it was still a great experience.

“To go there with our veterans was amazing,” she said. “It gave more meaning to why those memorials are actually there. To see their reaction when they see the memorials in honor of them and their troops, to see them smile or to give them a hug when they cry, this is priceless.”

Bartel believes all veterans should take the trip.

“They need to be recognized for the sacrifices they gave to make our country free, to hopefully bring some closure to that chapter of their lives, to say goodbye to fellow men and women and to experience a wonderful welcome home that they did not get when they came home from war,” she said.

The initial phone call was the most memorable experience for Bartel.

“I asked both of them if there was a name that they wanted to look for on the Vietnam wall,” she said. “They both gave me a name.”

Bartel gathered the information she needed to find those names.

“They were super-excited to find those names,” she said. “Both did pencil rubs of their friends’ name.

Mail call is also an emotional time for guardians and veterans.

“Some of them never expect it,” Bartel said. “My Army veteran said he did not know how they got all those letters for him.”

Tears filled his eyes as he read his letters, she said.

They returned home to hear a cheering crowd saying “Welcome home veterans” and “Thank you for your service.”

“I heard some of the veterans say they were not expecting this and asking where all the people came from,” Bartel said. “They were all emotionally moved.”

Bartel said the Old Glory Honor Flight is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“This is a wonderful day spent with veterans bonding, making new friends and giving them the honor they deserve,” she said. “It is never too late to say thank you.”

Bartel encouraged people to sign up to become a guardian at www.oldgloryhonorflight.org/apply-now/guardian-application/.

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