Honor Flight is a nonprofit program that flies veterans who served in World War II to Washington, D.C., to see the monuments and receive gratitude. This program has gotten almost 100,000 WWII veterans to participate. In fact, it is so dedicated to making sure all WWII veterans have the opportunity to experience Washington, D.C., the program is willing to do whatever it takes to let the veterans know they are appreciated. Such was the case with Richard Jowders.
The New Hampshire native served as a Private First Class in the Army. Unfortunately, health risks prevented Jowders from participating in the Honor Flight. Sheila Peters, a VA volunteer close to Jowders, decided to bring the experience to him. Peters arranged for the veteran to get the same experience without the flight to D.C. WMUR-9 News reported that Jowders was able to watch the film all Honor Flight participants see, to get the same apparel and receive a mail call with well wishes from loved ones.
"I can't thank them enough," Jowders told WMUR-9 News. "I probably can't even sleep tonight. I'll think about it all night."
Fellow veterans who were there with Jowders and who had experienced the Honor Flight said the event was as close to the real thing as it could be.