By Zack Peterson
Don Vanderlaan was just 16 when he walked his way into a recruiting office. A few minutes later, he walked out, turned the corner and forged the necessary paperwork needed to be sworn in to the U.S. Navy. Within 30 minutes, Vanderlaan had volunteered his services to the United States during World War II.
“The hardest part was telling my parents,” he chuckled.
Now 84, Vanderlaan’s services for his country are being honored. Along with 24 other men, Vanderlaan recently visited Washington, D.C. to visit war memorials, all courtesy of the Honor Flight West Central Florida program.
The cost? Free.
Honor Flight started in 2005 as a national program determined to provide “honor flights” for American veterans. These veterans were given the opportunity to visit war memorials in Washington D.C. in a single day.
In 2010, the Honor Flight West Central Florida was established as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization created to provide local veterans this reflective privilege.
“We’re losing a thousand World War II veterans every day,” Vanderlaan said. “They’re trying to take everyone they can.”
The inaugural flight left Tampa International Airport at roughly 6 in the morning, with all 25 veterans aboard accompanied by their “guardians” and medical staff.
To accommodate for any critical health conditions, the Honor Flight program assigns a guardian to each veteran, a caretaker for the day, as well as a wheelchair to any veteran who requires its use. Those volunteer caretakers pay their own way, about $400 each.
After a full day in Washington, D.C. touring the war memorials, veterans are greeted back in Tampa by a parade of people welcoming them back home. Waving American flags greeted their eyes, grateful cheers rang in their ears and passionate handshakes gripped every veteran returning home from the memorable journey.
“I don’t think there was one veteran who had a dry eye,” Vanderlaan said of the special welcoming.
Before any veteran and guardian could participate in the honor flight program, they had to first fill out an application that included questions pertaining to the veterans’ branch of service, their present address and any medications that they may take.
It was about a year and a half ago that Vanderlaan filled out his application; he almost dismissed the idea when he never heard back from the organization.
But when he finally got word from the organization, Vanderlaan knew this was a program he wanted to bring light to.
“There are so many people who don’t know this exists,” Vanderlaan said. “It’s very well organized, and it’s a very emotional trip too.
“There are so many veterans in this area that should know and experience it. It’s too well kept of a secret.”
Vanderlaan first spread the news to American Legion Post 26, located in Plant City. As the Sergeant-at-Arms of the organization, Vanderlaan encouraged Post 26 to donate to the project and spread the word.
Although the Honor Flight West Central Florida program receives most of its significant donations from Southwest Airlines and Bright House Networks, the contributions American Legion Post 26 put forth were enough to send two other supporters — Pat Vanderlaan, Don’s wife; and friend Charlotte Crumb.
Pat Vanderlaan and Crumb applied to be guardians for the program at the same time Don did. However, they weren’t processed in time to be a part of the inaugural flight.
Instead, they were invited to take part in another flight, one that carried 71 veterans, almost three times the number of the first flight.
“It was incredibly organized,” Crumb said. “They helped with food, with drinks, with anything really.”
Vanderlaan and Crumb found volunteering to be a “very rewarding” experience. Crumb partnered with Leonard Greenwood, a veteran from Frostproof, while Vanderlaan assumed responsibility for Louis Masi of St. Petersburg.
“We didn’t actually meet our veterans till the morning of,” Vanderlaan said.
But after a day of patriotic sentiments and emotional memories, special friendships were formed that would last a lifetime.
There are an estimated 32,000 veterans residing in the Honor Flight West Central Florida coverage area that the organization wishes to include in this memorable experience.
To honor each veteran in the manner they deserve, Honor Flight hopes to take up as many veterans as they can.
For more information about Honor Flight West Central Florida, call (727) 498-6079 or visit their website, www.honorflightwcf.org.
