By Hannah Amos
 
Today’s the day! Follow along on our socials at @ALAforVeterans on Facebook and Instagram. 

 Across the country — from the East Coast to the West and everything in between — female veterans traveled to Washington, D.C. to experience an American Legion Auxiliary-sponsored Lone Eagle Honor Flight.

This is the first all-female veteran Honor Flight the national ALA has been part of, providing the veterans an unforgettable experience for women with similar mindsets and backgrounds. 

Prior to starting today’s tours of Washington, D.C. memorials and monuments, the veterans got a chance to share a dinner and make connections with others. ALA National President Pam Ray recognized the veterans’ service at the event, talking of the emotions they will feel during their day of honor.
 

Ray’s speech resonated with veterans in attendance, like Queen Amos, U.S. Army ­— at the time the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) — and Army Reserve Vietnam era veteran, and Roxanne Pack, U.S Army Vietnam era veteran.

Both women traveled together from Alabama, and both are sharing the sentiment of excitement for the trip, as well as being honored and privileged to be a part of it.

“I am so happy because I think all the veterans out there and little ol’ me were selected to come to Washington, D.C.,” Amos said.

For Amos, the trip has an enormous meaning not only for the recognition of women veterans and their military service, but also the amount of firsts. It’s the first time Amos will visit many of the memorials.

Pack is excited but recognizes the complex emotions a trip like this will bring — something Ray spoke about.

“[Ray] was saying a lot of emotions. I kind of thought of all of that too because I think about my late husband. He went to Vietnam with three tours,” Pack said. “He came back alive on every last one of them, and I wish he was here to be a part of this, and that saddens me a lot. And so, I know I’m already kind of prepared about the emotions, the sadness.”

Though her husband (whom she met during her military service) is not here with her, Pack knows he wanted this Honor Flight for her, and he’s with her in spirit.

Another veteran on the Lone Eagle Honor Flight journey is Doris Jones, a U.S. Army nurse from New York who served in West Germany and Vietnam. 
 
For Jones, a member of The American Legion, the trip provides a moment of recognition not only for herself, but for other veterans attending. To her, an all-female Lone Eagle flight is special. 

“To know you weren’t the only one who was involved in it — we were volunteers. Guys got drafted, but us women — we volunteered for this,” Jones said. “I just wanted to join the group today and let them tell their story.” 

Amos shares Jones’ sentiment.

“We served. We were there. We made life better for them, the male soldiers,” Amos said. “People talk negatively about WAC, very negative. And when I was in service, when we would first go home in our uniform, if people saw us in the airport, they would say ugly, mean things.”

Beyond experiencing a day in Washington, D.C., the Honor Flight trip has helped give veterans a chance to open up and talk about their service. 

Excitement is abuzz for this day of honor and recognition. A few of the memorials and monuments the veterans are looking forward to are Arlington National Cemetery, the Military Women’s Memorial, the Vietnam Women’s Memorial, and so much more.

Expressions of thankfulness and appreciation for the ALA and Honor Flight Network were shared for this monumental trip. 

“I want to thank the Auxiliary for sponsoring us. I feel very privileged that I could be here today — a big shoutout to them, really, truly,” Pack said. “I would like to volunteer for something like that in my area.”