Army Major Kai Chitaphong addresses the Honor Flight audience about the importance of support structures when service members return home from active duty.” Photo courtesy of Honor Flight Rochester
BY JENNIFER CROWLEY
Last month nearly 50 veteran servicemen and a servicewoman from the Rochester area took part in Honor Flight Mission 63, a two-day excursion to Washington, D.C. that featured visits to several war memorials and monuments.
Honor Flight is a national not-for-profit entity that flies American veterans to the nation’s capital to see the memorials built in their honor. An Honor Flight mission is often the first time many aging servicemembers can see and touch the memorials built to honor their selflessness. There are a total of 130 Honor Flight hubs in the United States; since its inception in 2008, the Rochester hub has flown nearly 3,000 veterans to D.C. to reflect on and bond over their time in the military.
Mission 63 left from the Greater Rochester International Airport early in the morning of Saturday, October 20th. The veterans on Mission 63, the last of such flights for this year, served in all branches of the U.S. military (including the Women Army Corps) during World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War era. After landing in Washington, the group, which included a number of volunteers to assist with the needs of the aging vets, visited the Tomb of the Unknowns, the Lincoln Memorial, the National WWII Memorial, and the Air Force Memorial, in addition to other monuments honoring the bravery of our servicemen and women.
Upon returning to Rochester on the afternoon Sunday, October 21st, the mission was greeted by hundreds of well-wishers, capping off an emotional weekend with even more tears of pride. The event featured WROC-TV news anchor Maureen McGuire as emcee along with members of the West Webster Fire Department serving as color guard. Offering a keynote speech during the ceremony was Scottsville resident and Army Major Kai Chitaphong who recently returned from a state-side deployment as Chief of Social Work and Family Services at West Point. Further, in his civilian life, he serves as National Director of the Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership (VITAL) program which is headquartered at the Canandaigua VA. Chitaphong has also sat on the board of directors for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Greater Rochester American Red Cross.
“When I was asked to provide some remarks today, I felt a bit uneasy as I didn’t know what I could share with people who had a lifetime of experiences that are far greater than mine. I decided that I would talk about the only thing I know, and that’s mental health,” Chitaphong offered in his opening words.
“For each of the millions of service members/veterans who have served the United States, an average of ten other Americans are impacted by deployments. These include spouses, significant others, sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, extended families and close friends. What I have learned from my two deployments to Iraq, and my most recent year-long stateside deployment to West Point, is that when a service member deploys, these people do as well. They too must make adjustments mentally, emotionally, and in the routines of their everyday lives while supporting their deployed loved ones. They assume responsibilities left to them during a deployment. They do so quietly. When asked how they are doing, they smile, and maybe say they are ‘fine,’ but inside they may be tired, stressed and emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausted.”
“For those service members deployed and facing danger every day, you ensure the safety of your brothers and sisters in arms, to your left and your right. Knowing that the home front is well taken care of, you can focus on your mission and return home safely with those with whom you have served.”
From here Major Chitaphong took a moment to talk about how the thought of returning home keeps those on active duty in far away places motivated and hopeful, focused on returning to safety. The reality for those that make it home however is often daunting since the transition to becoming a ‘vet’ can be difficult, particularly for those with wounds that are often invisible.
“What I have learned from treating veterans in both the Army and through the VA, and from my academic and professional research to support veterans, is that the road to recovery and a positive treatment outcome is directly influenced by the strong support from families and loved ones. They let us know that they are part of the recovery journey by standing by our sides. They continue to take on the responsibilities assumed during deployment so we can focus on healing. Because of their dedication and devotion, we are better for it.”
Chitaphong wrapped up his speech with words of gratitude to the 48 veterans that comprised Mission 63. “I am here as a soldier, inspired by the veterans returning from their Honor flight, and thankful for their selfless service to United States. “You are heroes. You deserve every accolade that can be offered. You deserve the recognition and respect of every American that the many individuals here represent.”
Honor Flight is free to all American veterans thanks to the generosity of individual donors, corporate sponsors, and hundreds of volunteers. Honor Flights from Rochester will resume in April 2019 with a focus on veterans who served prior to 1964 or those from any era suffering from a catastrophic illness. Honor Flight Rochester will go to great lengths to escort any veteran who otherwise would not or could not go to Washington, D.C., and who wants to fly.
For anyone interested in supporting Honor Flight Rochester, consider heading out to the Friday, November 16th annual Skycoasters Turkey Bash starting at 7:30 PM at the Riverside Convention Center. The event, featuring a Silent Disco, will have a raffle as well, proceeds from which will go to Honor Flight to enable more missions in 2019. To learn more about Honor Flight Rochester, visit www.honorflightrochester.org.
