For Greene County News
DAYTON — The Honor Flight of Dayton has received a $30,000 donation from the Home Instead Senior Care office that serves Montgomery and Greene counties. The donation will enable nearly 200 veterans to make the journey to Washington, D.C., this fall.
“Home Instead Senior Care is sponsoring the September flight and co-sponsoring the October flight,” said Al Bailey, board member for Honor Flight Dayton. “It’s a full day of seeing the monuments and opportunities for others to thank the veterans for their service. For many of the veterans on the trip, it will be the first time they’ve ever received a reception or welcome home. It’s very emotional for them.” Local owner David Roediger received the award at the Home Instead Senior Care international convention held in Omaha, Nebraska.
Roediger and his staff were among only five franchise offices to earn the exclusive Founder’s Award based on monthly production and outstanding service to their clients. The award provides grants to the recipients to benefit projects or organizations in their communities.
During the next Honor Flight Dayton, Bailey said the veterans will see all of the memorials complete with a police escort around town, observe the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and tour the Capitol City, time permitting.
“It’s a very moving experience for them, especially when they’re at the Vietnam War Memorial and see the names of 58,000 soldiers who lost their lives, to see their buddy’s name on the wall,” Bailey said. “We also do a flag ceremony for one of their fallen comrades, where a vet in a wheelchair is pushed up to an empty wheelchair, he lays the flag in it, then we have a moment of silence followed by a bugler playing Taps. They also receive ‘mail call’ consisting of letters from children thanking them for their service, along with letters from their own loved ones.”
“Once we arrive back in Dayton, the veterans’ family and friends will be waiting for them. We will have active duty soldiers in uniform who will escort them off the plane and lead them to their families—we call it ‘Today’s Heroes Leading Yesterday’s Heroes,’” Bailey said. “It’s a very emotional trip.”
Home Instead Senior Care provides a variety of home care and companionship services to area seniors that keep them safe in their homes including home helper and companionship services as well as Alzheimer’s and personal care.
“I have a tremendous passion for the elderly, which is why we started this business,” Roediger said. “It’s very rewarding to be involved with these organizations and something we want to continue to do. It really feels good at the end of the day to know we’ve made a difference.”
