Honor Flight takes veterans to the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., for a day, free of charge. Why did you become involved with the organization?
Corwin: I got involved in honor of my father, who was in the Army Air Corps in Okinawa. My dad, like many of these veterans, never talked about his experiences, and I desperately wanted to know about the war. But I knew not to go there with my dad, so I never found out. Being part of Honor Flight gives me the opportunity to listen to these veterans and share their experiences. Every trip is like going on a trip with my dad.

Bill: The importance of what we do can’t be overstated. History books don’t say much about World War II. The veterans as a group say they don’t want to be forgotten. As a group, they saved the world.

Bill, you and your wife, Bobbi, have developed Columbus into one of the most organized of Honor Flight’s 76 hubs. What are your duties?
Ninety percent of our time is spent fund-raising, contacting veterans and guardians, training, and planning the trips. Simply put, logistics.

What is the cost of a trip, and how is it funded?
Bill: All expenses, about $275 for each veteran, are met by contributions from businesses, organizations, individuals, and community activities such as pancake breakfasts and bake sales.     

Bill, you mentioned guardians. Who are they?
We train volunteer companions who accompany each veteran on the trip, attending to his or her physical needs. Our job is to get the veterans there and back home safely. And it’s listening to them.

How do the veterans react to their visit to the Memorial?
Bill: It overwhelms them. They remember their experiences and trade stories about the war. They become emotional. They later share untold war stories with their families.

Corwin, tell us about the welcome the veterans receive when they return from their day in Washington.
They think they are just going to get off the plane and go home, as most of them did at the end of the war. Instead, they move along a corridor of flags, with cheers and thanks from Scout troops, Ohio State ROTC units, reenactors from the Sons of the American Revolution, fellow veterans, plus scores of family, friends, and bystanders. You can see in their faces they are overwhelmed. Many are moved to tears.

Honor Flight has transported more than 25,000 veterans to the Memorial. How many have been from Columbus?
Bill: By the end of this year, over a thousand will have traveled with us. About 30 fly each time.

What do you think is the future of Honor Flight?
Bill: There’s an appreciation for what the military is going through. I hope this momentum of the appreciation for the sacrifices these guys make carries over and we can do the Korea and the Vietnam memorials with those veterans.

How do you feel about your work with Honor Flight?
Bill: This is the most important work of my lifetime. The age of WWII veterans dictates that we do this now with no hesitation.

Corwin: Being part of Honor Flight is one of the top five things I have ever done in my life. It’s very fulfilling.

Learn more:  www.honorflightcolumbus.org

Interview by LOIS KINNAMON BECKER