Vietnam War Veteran Mark Carr takes a memorial visit to Washington D.C.
Local Veteran Mark Carr recently participated in the Honor Flight Tallahassee program and visited Washington D.C. with his daughter, Mary Carr Hartzog, on April 18th. The Honor Flight Tallahassee has had the privilege of taking over 860 Veterans on memorable journeys during a one-day field trip with meaning, memory, and deep emotion since 2013.
These flights, now 12 in total, are dedicated to honoring Veterans of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The idea behind Honor Flight is simple but profound: to ensure our nation’s heroes have the chance to visit the memorials built in their honor. When the World War II Memorial was finally completed in 2005, many of its Veterans were already in their 80s and 90s — too old, too fragile, or too far away to make the journey alone.
That’s where Honor Flight stepped in … making the trip possible, no matter the barriers.
For many Veterans, the journey to Washington is their first time visiting the D.C. area and its memorials. They board the plane silently, not knowing what awaits, but by the end of the day, they return transformed. The experience of sharing the trip with nearly 80 fellow service members often stirs long buried memories. For some, it’s the first time they’ve spoken about their time in the service. For others, it’s the first time they’ve heard the words “Thank You.” During the flight home, each Veteran receives a packet of mail during the “old fashioned” Mail Call filled with letters from family, friends, and complete strangers thanking them for their service.
Mark is a Vietnam War Veteran and a Georgia Military Veterans Hall-of-Fame Inductee for his heroic missions while serving in Vietnam as a Helivac Pilot during 1966 and 1967.
The Veterans were able to visit the World War II, Lincoln, Vietnam, Korean, Iwo Jima, Air Force Memorials, as well as visit Arlington National Cemetery to witness the Changing of the Guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Mary, his daughter, accompanied him as his guardian during the trip. This was a special moment for both because Mary was born while Mark was in Vietnam. He saw her for the first time months after she was born. He always said she was his reason WHY for making it home.
If you wish to learn more about how to participate as a volunteer, guardian, or apply for an application for a Veteran, please visit https://honorflighttallahassee.org/.
