VILLAGES HONOR FLIGHT NEWSLETTER

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1 VILLAGES HONOR FLIGHT NEWSLETTER October, Phone: Serving the Florida Counties of Lake, Marion, Sumter, Citrus and Hernando NEXT CLUB MEETING The Villages Honor Flight Club will meet on Monday, 9-October at1 2:30pm at the Colony Cottage Recreation Center in the Villages, FL (we always meet on the 2nd Monday of each month so mark your calendars in advance). You will have the chance to sign up for many volunteer opportunities so be sure to bring your calendars to the meeting. 23-Oct , Amerikano's Fund Raiser. Click Here For More Info 31 -Oct , Spanish Springs Business Chamber Halloween Fund Raiser 4 to 8PM Spanish Springs. 3-Nov-201 7, Golf Tournament. Click Here For More Info Coordinators will be available to answer any questions potential volunteers may have. 8-Nov-201 7, Buffalo Crossing Fund Raising Breakfast. UPCOMING DATES & EVENTS 9-Nov-201 7, Vet Lunch Program 1 -Oct , Fashion Show Fundraiser 1 0-Nov-201 7,Free CPR Class at 1 PM at Colony Cottage. $15.00 on sale now at the Rohan Center Click Here For More Info 9-Oct-201 7, VHF Club meeting, 1 2:30 PM, Colony Cottage 1 2-Oct-201 7, Vet Lunch Program Click Here For More Info 1 3-Oct-201 7, Free CPR Class at 1 PM at Colony Cottage 1 8-Oct-201 7, M37 Flight to Wash. D.C. First Charter Flight See Below For More Info Click Here For More Info 1 0-Nov-201 7, Parady's Salute to Veterans, Brownwood. On Friday because Saturday is Market Day. 1 3-Nov-201 7, VHF Club meeting, 1 2:30 PM, Colony Cottage

2 * VHF Club President s Message * Because of Irma, the September Villages Honor Flight club was cancelled. However, we are blessed to be here to talk about it. I don t know about you, but it s the worst storm I remember in my whole lifetime. I was disappointed though, because we were going to have a guest speaker. We will try to reschedule the event. We also planned on soliciting volunteers for events that have happened since Irma went through. There were two Preflight meetings which required lots of staff including Red Hats and Wheelchairs. All of us were able to get enough help and make the events successful. Now we are looking for help with Homecoming for both Mission 36 on 30 September and Mission 37 on 1 8 October. If you are available to help with Red Hats or Wheelchairs for those events, please contact me at vhfclub@villageshonorflight.org and I will pass along your availability. Many of you may be wondering what some of the jobs entail. In the coming months, we will have the various coordinators speak at the club meetings so you know more about the volunteer positions. Red Hats does not mean you walk around selling red hats and Wheelchairs does not me you participate in wheelchair races. It would be wonderful if everyone stepped up and volunteered to do something a few times a year. With 380 club members, everyone would truly be a volunteer. Mark your calendar for the next club meeting, October 9, at Colony Rec Center, 1 2:30 pm. Barbara Hambright Villages Honor Flight Club President vhfclub@villageshonorflight.org

3 * Flight Operations * Rob Hempel: Flight Director M35 & M37 Mission 35 Mission 35 is completed. Over all it went well given the challenges faced with the weather in DC. The staff and guardians did an excellent job adapting to several changes due to the inclement weather. The important part, the Veterans were having a good time and saw what they came for at both Arlington and the National Mall. As Flight Director, I wish to thank the staff for an outstanding team effort dealing with all of the challenges that arose during the flight. I could not have been more proud of your performance. Thanks also to all the Volunteers who coordinated, supported, attended the meetings, send off, and Homecoming! Mission 37 In Memory of Barbara Oster Honoring all VHF Volunteers Bill Oster, Barbara s husband will be flying as our VIP Our first charter flight, Mission 37, scheduled for October 1 8th, is in the final stages of planning. Seventy Veterans and seventy Guardians met for the first time at our preflight meeting on Sunday, September 1 7th. Staff, Squad Leaders, and Guardians have been busy training for this new charter model and discussed the major changes/challenges we face on a flight this size. Between now and flight day, each squad will hold a Social which is designed to not only provide additional information on the flight, but also give the Guardians and Vets more time to get to know one another. One of the keys to VHF s success are the bonds established between the Guardian and Veteran for the flight, which often develops into a longterm friendship. As Flight Director for Mission 37, I am confident we have all the right people and processes in place to make this first charter a huge success! Mission 37 Flight Statistics World War II s Era after World War II 3 Korean War s Era after Korean War - 2 Vietnam War 6 Army 34 Navy 1 7 Marines 7 Air Force 1 0 Coast Guard 2

4 * Mission 37 Volunteers * Liza Walters: Ground Coordinator Mission 37, October 1 8th Homecoming. We will need volunteers both for Send Off set up and for Homecoming. We need and ask for volunteers to be there at 1 :30AM to set up for Send Off and at 8PM for Homecoming. Please contact lizadiana@aol.com or see Liza at the next meeting, on October 9, at Colony Cottage, 1 2:30 PM. We would really like to see as many people as possible to come out and attend the homecoming. The veterans are not due to arrive until 9:40PM, but the entertainment will start at about 8:30PM with the Villages Cheerleaders, the Villages Twirlers and Ralph DiNome and his Flashback Band. Bring a chair and flags and show your continuing support for these veterans.

5 Website Update By CC Martin, VHF Webmaster Oh My...forms! When applying as a volunteer to maintain the Villages Honor Flight (VHF) website, I noticed that the application forms were not online forms. After talking with several VHF club members, they said it would be nice to have online forms so I set out to do just that. Application forms for guardians, fly again guardians, veterans, volunteers, and flightless program are being improved for easier entering of information, printing and delivery to the proper VHF administrator. Since the forms are online, one can enlarge the text size by zooming in for easier reading and viewing of the content questions. They will be available to use October 1. I think those applying for a position will enjoy the ease and convenience of the new online forms. The existing forms that are currently found online will remain on the site for next few weeks to ensure a smooth transition to the new format. Each of the new online forms is located above the current downloadable form for that particular position. When one wants to apply for guardianship, for instance, just click on the words online guardian form or online fly again guardian form. The selected form will open in the browser where the applicant will fill out the form directly on their screen. When the applicant finishes filling out the form the next step is to click the submit button and it will be sent to the appropriate administrator. After clicking on the submit button, all information is deleted automatically from the form. Remember to tell your friends who are interested in applying as a volunteer or guardian about the new online format on the applications menu on the VHF website s homepage. Remember too, to tell any veteran you know about Villages Honor Flight and that they can also fill out a veteran online application form to go to Washington, D.C. to see their memorials or to go on a flightless mission. All the forms are accessible by clicking the Applications Menu item. In addition to the above forms, there is also a Flags of our Heroes Application Request form that is embedded on that webpage. Again, one can select the option of clicking on the link to open the application form in a new browser window or scroll further down the webpage and fill out and submit the form from within the webpage itself. Follow VHF on Facebook so you can keep up-to-date on upcoming activities and events.

6 * Military Trivia * In the preparation for the Quasi-War with France, congress created Naval Act of 1 794, which includes the United States Navy and the Marine Corps. Naval Act of 1794, SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the crews of each of the said ships of forty-four guns, shall consist of one hundred and fifty seamen, one hundred and three midshipmen and ordinary seamen, one sergeant, one corporal, one drum, one fife, and fifty marines; and that the crews of each of the said ships of thirty-six guns shall consist of one hundred and thirty able seamen and midshipmen, ninety ordinary seamen, one sergeant, two corporals, one drum, one fife, and forty marines, over and above the officers herein before mentioned. Speakers Bureau Please help us spread the word about Villages Honor Flight! Speaking to clubs, organizations, neighborhood groups, etc. helps VHF get the word out to area veterans and potential guardians. If your club or organization would like to learn more about Villages Honor Flight, please contact Barb Cooksey at bcooksey11 22@centurylink.net

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8 Community Fundraiser Dine to make a difference Community Fundraiser Dine to make a difference Villages Honor Flight Villages Honor Flight Monday, Oct 23, :30am to 9:00pm Monday, Oct 23, :30am to 9:00pm Amerikanos will donate 20% of sales when you present this flyer* to Amerikanos at 998 Del Mar Drive Spanish Springs Amerikanos will donate 20% of sales when you present this flyer* to Amerikanos at 998 Del Mar Drive Spanish Springs * Flyer must be presented at time of check-in * Flyer must be presented at time of check-in

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10 Buffalo Crossing 3890 Woodridge Dr. The Villages Community Fundraiser Breakfast Buffet Wednesday Nov. 8, :30am to 10:00am Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, Grilled Ham, Pancakes, Waffles Fruits, Danish, Donuts, Coffee, Tea, Juices $7.00 ea. Reservation available Call: Kim McClinton Walk-ins Welcome All funds donated to Villages Honor Flight Inc.

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13 VILLAGES HONOR FLIGHT P.O. BOX 490 Lady Lake, FL Phone: Comments or suggestions may be sent to newsletter Editor, Hector E. Bueno, at or phone