NEWS

DIA Director Pays Tribute to Honor Flight Veterans

June 20, 2012

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C. – Ninety-three World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veterans from Toledo and Finley, Ohio, were warmly greeted by Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) director Lt. Gen. Ronald Burgess, Jr. on June 7, 2012 as part of the "Flag City Honor Flight" here.

Boarding a private charter carrier for Air Mobility Command, the Honor Flight contingency departed from the Grand Aire Hanger at Toledo Express Airport, landing at Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI). Honored guests including one female veteran and two Purple Heart recipients were then escorted along with their individual traveling guardians to visit places of interest in the National Capital Region. Visits included paying respect at the WWII and Korean War memorials, and visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.

The Honor Flight Network is comprised of individual hubs and chapters throughout the U.S., each doing whatever it takes to fulfill the dreams of our country's veterans and help these heroes travel to Washington, D.C., to see their war memorials, free of charge.

"The vets love getting face time with a general or admiral, and most are awed that an active duty flag officer takes time out of his or her day to come and meet them. Many have only seen a general from a distance during a briefing or a group gathering," explained Robert Lowe, a station manager at BWI who coordinates many Honor Flight visits in the National Capital Region.

Lt. Gen. Burgess boarded the plane to speak personally with the veterans and shake their hands and pose for photos as they deplaned. "Everyone wanted their picture taken with the general. So many of our vets tell me afterward that this was the best part of their day, a more upbeat time as they will emotionally let loose when they finally visit the memorials," said Lowe. He added that he overheard one veteran tell Burgess the last three star he met was during World War Two, when Gen. George Patton yelled at him. "We all get a giggle and a chill out of these stories – these stories are like meeting a walking history book," said Lowe.

Honor flights can cost around $50,000 but are funded by donations. Sponsoring a one-day trip averages $400 per veteran participant. The all-inclusive trip provides transportation to and from Washington, D.C.; bus service to the memorials; all meals and beverages; and any wheelchairs and other medical equipment needed. Often, local medical providers donate their time and equipment to assist these special flights.

The Honor Flight Network welcomes any active duty military, retirees or civilian guests to meet and greet future incoming Honor Flights to BWI, Dulles International and Reagan National airports. For more information, visit www.honorflight.org.

DIA is the nation’s premier all-source military intelligence organization.

It provides the nation’s most authoritative assessments of foreign military intentions and capabilities. The agency’s four core competencies -- human intelligence, all-source analysis, counterintelligence and technical intelligence -- enable military operations while also informing policy-makers at the defense and national levels.

DIA’s mission is unique and no other agency matches its military expertise across such a broad range of intelligence disciplines.