The Job of the Guardians-NCK Honor Flight

Reading about courage while seeing your Veteran's reflection

The job of the "Guardian" on the Honor Flight is very important and very rewarding. Guardians have the opportunity to travel and visit the sites, but work very hard to make their Veteran the number one priority. Guardians also assist with the year-round fund raising to support the trip. On the May 2012 trip Guardians were matched one-to-one in order to give the Veterans special treatment. Eight CJSHS students were selected as Guardians earlier in the school year. They were required to complete an application, similar to a job application, listing references and experiences considered helpful on the Honor Flight, and a short essay about why they would like to serve as a Guardian. Often, the Veterans are skeptical about traveling with teenagers, but always comment about how impressed they are with the young people after the trip. Community Guardians are also chosen to assist on the trip, to help with the overnight stays. Some of the Guardians were also family members, such as a son or daughter, but rarely a spouse. Careful matches are made to ensure the safety of the Veterans, as well as the ability to provide the care needed with medications, mobility, medical issues, communication etc.

Francis could always be found in a crowd (or lost in a crowd); he had so many stories for the students

Please click on the photos to see all 75 pictures and read the captions to see the Honor Flight experience from the perspective of the Guardians. (Many of the photos have been provided by the Guardians.)

Cyndi & Dee

Contact Bev Mortimer for more information about serving as a Guardian. Although, we welcome Guardian applications, we have a waiting list.

Thank you to all of the Guardians who made this trip special:

Students: Ashlynn Lambert, Drew Knapp, Trent Tholstrup, Aren Coppoc, Megan Frost, David Strait, Micah Fabarez and Katie Lambert

USD 333 Staff: Denise Stover, Gene Rundus, Brandon Rice, Ryan Mortimer, Chuck Knapp

Community Members: Toby Nosker, Kayleen Lewis, Josh Meyer, Larry Eubanks

Physician: Dr. Jake Breeding

Other Guardians: Keri Breeding, Melba Kuhlmann, Christine Beneda, Jason Walker, Stuart Russell, Vesta Lyne, Bob Righter

A very special thanks to Cyndi Atwell, CJSHS Counselor, for helping plan the meals, White House visit, getting lanyards, and much more; including the donation to the Honor Flight from your birthday party!