Honor Flight Historic Triangle Virginia

Honor FlightHistoric Triangle

Virginia

Guardian Training

History

Honor Flight was founded by Earl Morse and made it’s first flight to D.C. in May 2005

Honor Flight Historic Triangle Virginia was founded in September 2008 when we saw a need for funds to support local WWII Vets so they could visit ‘their’ Memorial

We became an official Honor Flight Hub on December 17, 2008.

Historic triangle Honor Flight Board

President: Bob DohertyDirector: Matt Hartman Asst Director: April MaletzAsst Director: Dana RiveraBoard Members:

Sharon AndersonSatin BentleyConnie DragoJack GreenhalghKelley HallDoug HarshbargerTony LevineRachelle Woodruff-Kelso

Primary Mission

Care for the Veteran as if he/she is family!! Honor Flight gets numerous calls from anxious wives, daughters,

sons, and grandchildren wanting to accompany the Veteran so they can be sure they will be well cared for.

We need to guarantee that we can fulfill that role!

Safety - Safety- Safety- Safety(This is your primary duty)

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Own the problem If you find one of our vets has a problem

YOU OWN IT! Until or unless you can turn it over to an

appropriate person, deal with it. Never leave one of our vets with an issue

because it wasn’t: Your vet, Your bus, Your Hub.

Cell PhonesWe will be communicating via

cell phone; charge your battery!

Bus Captain and Mission Director cell phone numbers will be on your nametag

Photographs Encourage the Veterans to take LOTS of photographs during the trip. Offer to take their photograph with their cameras. Don’t wait until they reach the WWII Memorial; remember it’s the

journey that they will want to recall. Start taking pictures early in the day including, waiting areas, on the

bus, and of course at the memorials Each Veteran will be given a disposable camera; there should not be any

film left on the camera at the end of the day Please notify your Bus Captain if your Vet did not get a camera

Most guardians have their own cameras; take lots of pictures to share with your Veteran after the trip. These photographs will likely be some of the most treasured pictures for family members

There will be a photographer assigned to each bus

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Wheelchairs Never handled a wheelchair before?

LOCK THE WHEELS! BACK IN AND OUT of Doorways/Elevators Keep track of your wheelchair!

If the Veteran decides he/she wants to walk for a bit – be sure to keep track of that wheelchair!

Make sure chair is “set” before allowing the Veteran to sit down If you don’t have a wheelchair bound Veteran at the beginning

of the day – you may have one by the end of the day – watch for fatigue and check with Bus Captain if you think he/she may need a chair Suggest to them to be “King for a Day” and take the Royal

Treatment!

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Falls Be alert for any Veterans having difficulty walking; have them

sit down immediately Notify your Bus Captain and get a wheelchair as soon as

possible! Assist Veterans with:

On and off the bus Around the memorials Guardians WILL BE at the top and bottom of the bus steps

while veterans are going up or down these steps!!!!! You will have to watch some Veterans closer then others Be particularly alert toward the end of the day when fatigue

is high

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Medical Complaints

Inform your Bus Captain immediately if any Veteran is complaining of these symptoms:

Fatigue Chest pain Dizziness Acting confused Shortness of breath

You should watch for these symptoms as well - some Veterans won’t tell you until it’s too late

We have an EMT on each bus.

MEDICAL EMERGENCY Contact your bus EMT & your Bus Captain

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Dehydration Senior citizens do not like to drink when they travel because of

bladder control problems Carry water for your vet. They are very prone to dehydration

Lack normal thirst mechanisms Layer lots of clothing Take medications that make them prone to dehydrate (water pills)

Encourage them to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day Ensure them that bathrooms are available

Tour bus -Memorials -Rest Stops Personal hygiene items (hand sanitizer, wipes, Depends) are

also available to the Veterans and guardians You may wish to pack a small backpack of personal items as

well

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Sun Sun

Put sun block on yourself and your vet during the day; repeat as needed

Elderly skin is very fragile and must be safeguarded Encourage your vet to wear a hat. We must be very aware of how debilitating heat is – to

ourselves and the vets – hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Watch for clammy skin, paleness, flushed cheeks,

shortness of breath Any symptoms of a health problem must be immediately

reported to your bus captain and the medical person on your bus. Each bus will have a medical person on board.

Buses SAME BUS, SAME SEAT ALL DAY LONG!

Order of getting off bus: Media Bus Captain Guardians (pull wheelchairs) Veterans (Three guardians on the stairs; one at the top –

two at the bottom) No one gets off the bus without knowing:

Where are the bathrooms? Time and location of event at memorial. When does everyone get back on the bus? Where will the buses be for pick-up?

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Buses (2) Guardians with Vets who require wheelchairs get off first, removing

the wheelchairs required for that specific stop Always have ONE guardian at the top of the stairs and TWO at the

bottom! Guardian at the top is the “traffic cop”; controlling the flow Guardians at the bottom assist each Veterans off the bus

As the Veterans come downstairs, “top” guardian assists and guides him/her to waiting guardians

Guardians at the bottom of stairs are watching for the next Veteran Always have a guardian watching for the next Veteran coming off the

bus CAN NOT over emphasize this issue; this has been a high injury point

due to lack of attention to the Veterans coming off the buses

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Headcounts Headcounts will be conducted at specific locations

loading the buses, etc. To aid the accountability, you will be assigned specific

Veterans that you will be responsible for during the trip – DO NOT lose sight of your Veterans!

Always keep your Veterans in view – listen for their names at role call

This is THEIR day and it’s up to you to make it memorable, safe, and rewarding

Guardians can TEMPORARILY “swap” vets in order to accommodate veteran visits to different areas at each stop, however, you MUST ensure a vet is NEVER without an assigned guardian and you MUST link up with your assigned veteran(s) prior to the departure from each location.

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FOOD & WATER!

Make sure that every Veteran on your team gets plenty to eat and drink Open water bottles and food packages/containers for your

veteran Meal time is also a great time to remind Veterans to take

their medication(s) as needed Honor Flight will pay for their meals HFHTVA has made arrangements for box breakfasts &

lunches; make sure each Veteran gets one HFHTVA has planned dinner at the National Museum of the

Marine Corps Guardians ensure the Veterans are fed first before they eat

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Bus Captains A Bus Captain is responsible for everything that

happens on his/her bus. The Bus Captain determines guardian roles for

the day and ensure these are followed throughout the entire trip

The Bus Captain Role conducts roll calls and/or seat checks

The Bus captain ensures that if a vet elects to stay on the bus at any time, a guardian is assigned to stay with that vet.

Memories

We have contacted several Veterans who have taken the trip with us. When we ask them what was the most memorable part of their entire trip, the answer is always the same – it was the appreciation, admiration and sincere gratitude shown to them for their service by complete strangers, youngsters and other tourists. That memory will remain with them for the rest of their lives. You can help foster that recognition by thanking them for their service in front of others who happen to be within earshot of your conversation.

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Listen!

Lend a sympathetic ear During the tour, you might hear the Veterans talking

about their combat experience or friends they have lost. For some of the Veterans, this might be the first time they have ever talked about the experiences that they have tried to forget

If this happens, don't feel that you have to make a comment – just listen and thank them for sharing their stories with you

You might ask them if they have shared their combat experience with their family. If not, encourage them to pass down their stories to their loved ones as a legacy of their service

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Key Injury Areas

BUSES – loading and unloading (one guardian at top/two below)

WHEELCHAIRS LOCK THEM IN PLACE! before assisting Veteran in or out Foot rests down and Veterans feet properly in place Transitioning curbs WW II Veterans DO NOT push other Veterans

Each Memorial has it’s own set of hazards

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Korean War Veterans Memorial

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

KOREAN WAR VETERANS MEMORIAL

HORRIBLE DROP OFF/PICK UP POINT; LOTS OF TRAFFIC AND MAY HAVE TO CROSS THE STREET (CURBS!)

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NATIONAL WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL

Can be VERY congested in bus drop off/pick up area.

24Memorial is in a “bowl” with ramps leading into the memorial.


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‘Steps’ leading down to the edge of fountain and area around fountain in irregular shaped.

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THE MARINE CORPS WAR MEMORIAL (IWO JIMA)

The majority of falls in the Honor Flight Network happen at the Marine Corps War Memorial . . . Be on the top of you game!!

ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY


Buses Load and Unload in front of Memorial Amphitheater

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Handicap Restroom down the Ramp

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It can be VERY difficult to get in and out of the restrooms.

RESTROOM ENTRANCE

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It can be VERY difficult to get in and out of the restrooms.

RESTROOM EXIT

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You are required to stand during Changing of the Guard, so stay close to your Veteran. We would prefer you stand either ground level or on upper flat

platform. There is a separate area for wheelchairs.


33There is a separate area for wheelchairs.


NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE MARINE CORPS

ARRIVAL AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE MARINE CORPSIS VERY COOL, BUT CAN ALSO BE VERY EMOTIONAL

36There are sections of the museum that can get a little dark.


37Toward the end of the day and everyone is getting a little tired.


CHECK, Check & Double Check!

Be their ears and eyes KNOW if your veterans are hard of hearing or legally blind

Check the bus, waiting areas, rest stops WHEREVER they sit for their wallet, glasses, cell phone,

cameras, jackets, camera, ponchos, etc. Echo announcements that are made or ask veteran if

they heard what was said. Help blind veterans feel the Bas-Relief Sculpture Panels

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Your Veteran's Money

Do NOT permit the Veteran to pay for anything during the trip

Exceptions would be for souvenirs they want to purchase If you see a Veteran trying to pay for food, drink, or any items

other than souvenirs, please stop them from doing so and contact your Bus Captain if available or purchase the item for your veteran and request reimbursement through your Bus Captain after the trip

Let your Bus Captain know how much you spent and you will be reimbursed

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Impromptu Donations

Do not accept donations to our program by any Veteran, other passengers, or tourists

Politely inform Veterans that they can never make a donation to Honor Flight Network because we feel that they have given enough

Any non-Veteran who would like to make a contribution can do so by visiting the our website.

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News Media

You may come in contact with news media who want an interview.

Identify those articulate, talkative Veterans in your group that would be at ease during an interview and direct the media to those individuals

Will Rogers once said, “We can't all be heroes. Some of us have to stand on the curb and clap as they go by.” The Honor Flight program is dedicated to this saying These trips are about the Veterans and NOT the

guardians This may be their "last hurrah" THE SPOTLIGHT IS THEIRS!

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You set the tone for the entire trip!

WE WILL ENCOUNTER SOME “ISSUES”, BUT STAY POSITIVE!

HISTORY HAS SHOWN US THE VETERANS DON’T START COMPLAINING UNLESS THE GUARDIANS ARE COMPLAINING

ENJOY THE TRIP!

You have significant responsibilities during this trip; MOST ESPECIALLY THE SAFETY OF THE Veterans! You will hear things like “this is the most important day of my life.” Several are coming to closure with feelings they have been carrying for over 60 years. This trip is a significant emotional event for the Veterans, the Veteran's family members and also for you, the guardian. Your life will be changed forever because you gave so much so our World War II Heroes can be given a small token of appreciation for what they did for us; they saved the World and because of their sacrifices, you enjoy the freedoms of our GREAT COUNTRY.

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Documents

Honor Flight Historic Triangle Virginia