From AFT:
“Honor Flight officials press
to resume police escorts for veterans”
(A WWII veteran visitng
Washington, D.C., as part of an Honor Flight event salutes as the colors are
presented at the World War II Memorial in 2016.)
Amid ongoing efforts to bring
thousands of aging veterans to visit the nation’s capital in 2022, supporters
of the Honor Flight Network are asking administration officials to resume
police escorts for memorial visits to ensure the safety of everyone involved. Since
2005, Honor Flight officials have helped more than 240,000 veterans from across
the country visit Washington, D.C., for an opportunity to tour the war
memorials and national landmarks there. In many cases, the veterans are elderly
and in poor health, and only able to make the trip because of special medical
and financial assistance provided by the group. The group’s activities largely
were shuttered by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but have picked up again in
recent months. Officials are planning a major event on the National Mall in May
to coincide with the 250,000th veteran visit in group history. However, recent
operations have been complicated by a lack of Park Police escorts for tour
buses visiting the memorials.
More than 750 veterans have died
waiting for a chance to visit the nation's war memorials since Honor Flights
were suspended in early 2020.
Many areas of the National Mall —
particularly around the World War II memorial and Vietnam War Memorial Wall — have
limited parking, making it difficult for veterans in wheelchairs to access the
areas. Fifteen House Republicans sent a letter to Department of Interior
leaders asking for U.S. Park Police officials reinstate “vehicular escort
services” for the upcoming events, and for more information on why they were
stopped. Democratic lawmakers have made similar inquiries in recent months,
looking for ways to resume the escorts and concerned about the lack of
cooperation from the department. “Honor Flight has had a long-standing
hand-shake agreement with the Park Police to provide police escorts for the
Honor Flights and veterans visiting the memorials raised in their honor,” said
Matthew Shuman, chairman of Honor Flight’s board of directors. “These police
escorts provide safety for the veterans, many physically disabled, and ensure
they have the ability and time to visit the memorials, reflect upon their
service and the sacrifices of their fellow brother and sister veterans. Without
them, veterans face a reduced time at the memorials, and in a less safe
environment, amongst the hustle and bustle of our nation’s capital.”
The first ever all-female honor
flight with 135 veterans visited the Washington area on Sept. 24. They received
a warm welcome at Reagan National Airport. But Park Police officials have
informed the group that they can’t provide escorts for future events without
permission from senior administration leadership. Secretary Deb Haaland “is
deeply committed to honoring the sacrifices that veterans and their families make,”
Giovanni Rocco, Interior Department deputy press secretary, said in a statement
to Military Times. But he did not provide any new details or clarification on
why the Park Police escorts were stopped. Park Police officials did not respond
to requests for comment. Republican lawmakers said the Honor Flight trips
represent “a once in a lifetime experience for some veterans.” They’re pushing
for an answer to the escort request as soon as possible, to ensure preparations
are complete before the upcoming May event. Shuman said his group has
reimbursed Park Police staff in the past for the escorts, which help provide
safe loading and unloading areas for veterans around the war memorials. “Honor
Flight is incredibly thankful for the many Park Police officers who love
escorting and helping veterans,” he said. “We simply need their continued
support to honor these American heroes.”
^ These Honor Flights, with
Police Escorts, need to be restored in DC. More and more Disabled and Elderly
Veterans are dying every day that we wait. We owe them at least this for everything
they have done for us. ^
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