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| Honor Flight Debuts on WOSU TV By Dana Viglietta, Airfare Managing Editor
 As a granddaughter of two World War II veterans (one who has since passed away and one who is still alive and sharp as a tack), I was immediately drawn into the storyline of the new WOSU TV documentary, Honor Flight.
The documentary focuses on a nonprofit organization honoring America’s veterans by flying them to Washington to visit the WWII Memorial. The Honor Flight Network selects veterans, organizes the trips, and provides guardians for each flight. They also pay for each veteran to attend, free of charge. The goal of this organization is implicit in their name: they seek to honor our veterans, and they do so by making this trip possible for them.
The premise of Honor Flight is simple: the trips are short (round trip in one day), but the emotional connection and sense of pride and honor for each veteran is immeasurable. As I watched a short clip of Honor Flight on the Web site www.ohiowarstories.org, I sensed the respect, pride, and emotion evident as each veteran reflected on his and her war experiences. Many talked about friends they had lost, and nearly all were overcome with emotion as complete strangers applauded them in the airport upon arrival in D.C. The short clip was enough to bring tears to my eyes—I couldn’t help but think of what my grandfathers went through during World War II and how, if given the chance, they too might be overcome with emotion on such a trip.
“These guys reminded me so much of my grandparents, who have long since passed away, but endured so much. When shooting this piece, I really focused more on the warm feelings I had towards them and less on the horrors of war. I wanted this piece to capture that sense of family, compassion, and dignity of life.” —Mary Rathke, WOSU Producer.
Honor Flight is a touching tribute that reminds us that we can all make a difference in another person’s life. Will Rogers once said that “We can’t all be heroes. Some of us have to stand on the curb and clap as they go by.” I, along with many other viewers, will be clapping during Honor Flight.
Watch Honor Flight on WOSU TV:
- November 12 at 10:30pm
- November 18 at 10:30am
For more information on the Honor Flight Network, visit:
Web: www.honorflight.org
Honor Flight, Inc.
300 E. Auburn Ave.
Springfield, OH 45505-4703
Phone: 937-521-2400
E-mail address: info@honorflight.org
The History of the Honor Flight Program:
The Honor Flight program was conceived by Earl Morse, a Physician Assistant and Retired Air Force Captain, to honor veterans he has taken care of for the past 27 years. After retiring from the Air Force in 1998, Morse was hired by the Department of Veterans Affairs to work in a small clinic in Springfield, Ohio. In May 2004, the WWII Memorial was finally completed and dedicated in Washington D.C.—which quickly became the topic of discussion among his WWII veteran patients. He repeatedly asked these veterans if they would ever travel out to visit their memorial. Most veterans felt that eventually, somehow, they would make it to D.C. perhaps with a family member or friend.
 As summer turned to fall, and then winter, these same veterans returned to the clinic for their follow-up visits. Morse asked if they accomplished their dream of visiting the WWII Memorial. By now, for most of the veterans queried, reality had settled in; it was clear to most that it simply wasn’t financially or physically possible for them to make the journey. Most of these senior heroes were in their 80s and lacked the physical and mental wherewithal to complete a trip on their own. Families and friends also lacked the resources and time to complete a three or four day trip to D.C. Morse could tell that the majority of the veterans had given up all hope of ever visiting the memorial that was specifically created to honor their services and the services of their fellow comrades who paid the ultimate sacrifice. That’s when Morse decided that there had to be a way to get these heroes to Washington to see their memorial.
In addition to being a Physician Assistant, Morse is a private pilot and member of one of the nation’s largest aero clubs at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton. In December 2004, Morse asked one of his WWII veteran patients if he could personally fly him to Washington, free of charge, to visit his memorial. The veteran broke down and cried. He said at his age he would probably never get to see his memorial. He accepted the offer.
A second WWII veteran was asked the same question a week later. He too cried and enthusiastically accepted a trip to D.C. Realizing that the desire was so great, Morse started to ask for help from other pilots to make these hopes and dreams a reality. In January 2005, Morse addressed about 150 members of the aero club during a safety meeting, outlining a volunteer program to fly veterans to their memorial. There were two major stipulations to his request. The first was that the veterans pay nothing. The entire aircraft rental ($600 to $1,200 for the day) would have to be paid solely by the pilots. The second was that the pilots personally escort the veterans around D.C. the entire day. After Morse spoke, 11 pilots who had never met his patients volunteered to make their dream a reality. Honor Flight was born.1
1--History courtesy of www.honorflight.org
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WOSU@COSI: Events and Happenings
WOSU@COSI will be busy throughout November as WOSU Public Media hosts a variety of interesting and entertaining programs and events.
 On November 2 at 8pm and November 3 at 3pm, Columbus Dance Theatre (CDT)—in partnership with WOSU Public Media—will present The String Machine, a premiere by CDT Artistic Director Tim Veach. The performances will take place in the Battelle Studio at WOSU@COSI. Under the video direction of WOSU’s Forest Godsey, audiences will experience not only live dance and music but will witness the making of a television premiere. The hour-long work is a merging of dance, music, and technology with live music provided by Carpe Diem String Quartet. Dancers and musicians are hooked to a “machine of sound and movement.” Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for students. Call 614-849-0227 or visit www.coldancetheatre.org for tickets.
On Sunday, November 11, at 1:30pm, The InterACT theatre troupe from The Ohio State Theatre Department will perform a theatrical piece about WWII at WOSU@COSI. In honor of Veteran’s Day, the performance will center around veterans who were interviewed and asked various questions about their experiences during WWII. Some of the questions posed to the veterans included:
- How do you view WWII in contrast to the wars that followed including the Iraq war?
- How did soldiers manage to integrate back into society upon their return from WWII and how has that changed?
- Should the government play the role of peace keeper or play the role as advocate of democracy?
- How can we hear, preserve, and learn from the wisdom and words of WWII veterans, and what role does technology play in this preservation?
- How does the younger generation of today experience WWII and the war in Iraq?
The InterACT theatre troupe will engage with the real voices of a few veterans whose interviews will be heard and woven throughout the theatrical piece. The performance will incorporate the live audience by way of encouraging post-performance discussion. The members of The Senior Repertory Theatre will be singing some popular songs from that era prior to the performance. Admission to the event is free.
On November 18, WOSU is excited to host a live recording of Christopher Purdy’s Music in Mid-Ohio series for WOSU 89.7 FM. Music in Mid-Ohio features “the best of local music making” performed in our listening area—and occasionally outside it. The live recording for Music in Mid-Ohio in November will feature Early Music in Columbus: The Early Interval. Listen to WOSU 89.7 FM for more details!
Finally, on November 21, COSI will be open and free to the public for their annual Community Open House. WOSU@COSI will have fun activities planned for that day as well, so we hope you will join us!
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The Holiday Table Returns to WOSU TV  WOSU TV is bringing back a timely program favorite in November: The Holiday Table.
The holidays are just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate the magic of the season than with scrumptious appetizers, delectable dinners, and tantalizing treats? Whether you are planning a holiday meal, making homemade gift baskets, baking cookies with kids, or entertaining friends, The Holiday Table presents a sure way to create easy and elegant holiday entertaining.
Style experts offer ideas for simple and inexpensive centerpieces, mantel decorations, innovative place cards, and more. Hosted by Chris Fennimore and Dede Wilson, the program will bring you exciting recipes and entertaining ideas for the upcoming holidays, from Thanksgiving and Christmas to Kwaanza, Chanukah, and New Year’s.
The Holiday Table can be seen on WOSU TV at these times:
Thanksgiving Miniatures
Friday, November 2, at 1:30pm
Saturday, November 3, at 12:30pm
Thanksgiving Favorite Sides
Friday, November 9, at 1:30pm
Saturday, November 10, at 12:30pm
Thanksgiving Leftovers
Friday, November 16, at 1:30pm
Saturday, November 17, at 12:30pm
Gifts from the Kitchen
Friday, November 23, at 1:30pm
Chanukah Latkes Three Ways
Friday, November 30, at 1:30pm ö
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Thank You to Our WOSU@COSI Donors! By Tom Rieland, WOSU Public Media General Manager
 Put over 6,000 people, 44 corporations and foundations, and a committed Board of Directors together and what do you get? For WOSU Public Media, the answer is an extremely successful capital campaign to build and equip the new WOSU@COSI digital media center.
After four years of great effort by many folks passionate about the value of local public media, we’re wrapping up our first ever campaign by exceeding the $5.6 million goal for construction and first phase equipment.
There are two words we would like to say to our membership and the community of Central Ohio: THANK YOU!
We have been touched by so many of you through your generosity and commitment to building a better WOSU. We’re happy to report that in less than a year of operation, WOSU@COSI has already become a wonderful new resource for the community. The new studios led to a 30 percent increase in local WOSU television programming; over 5,000 people participated in programming and outreach activities within our space; and several hundred thousand others have used the dynamic digital media exhibit within WOSU@COSI. And that’s just the start!
Thank you again for continuing to believe in WOSU Public Media through your generous contributions. We look forward to seeing you at the many events and programs being developed at WOSU@COSI.
WOSU@COSI Campaign Highlights:
- 6,681 individual, corporate, and foundation gifts
- $5.93 million raised
- $586,000 endowment raised for operation
- Largest private gift in history (Battelle, $1.6 million)
The Challenges—Kresge and The Columbus Foundation
Because of the endowment funds required to receive the Kresge Foundation challenge grant, WOSU was unable to secure the monies. However, WOSU’s most recent commitment of $100,000 was the result of meeting the Columbus Foundation challenge of reaching $5.5 million in capital support.
A list of contributors who donated to WOSU@COSI can be found on www.wosu.org. Thank you again to everyone who supported the WOSU@COSI campaign!
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Columbus Rotary: Service Above Self Awards
 When Catherine Harper-Lee left a successful marketing and television production career to become a victims’ advocate and founder of the Justice League of Ohio, she neither expected to be recognized by the Columbus Rotary, nor to receive a $1,000 donation for her cause in 2007. Catherine is just one of fourteen individuals in Central Ohio that have been honored in the past for “service above self” in their contributions to community and commitment to the Columbus Rotary vision “to effect positive and enduring change in the lives of others.”
Virginia “Casey” Clark, a “service above self” honoree in 2006, once worked as a real estate appraiser but now she spends her days devoted to helping those who have no home of their own, giving homeless children a place to thrive. Casey has volunteered for the Homeless Families Foundation over 15 years, chairing the organization’s drive to fill Christmas wish lists; creating and chairing its annual auction fund-raiser; coordinating work to help families find suitable housing; writing grants to help pay operating expenses and to support special projects; and since 1998, as a board trustee. Homeless children are her passion. Most recently, that passion backed by time, talent and treasure of Columbus Rotary members, fueled a vision to transform the Foundation’s Education Center from a warehouse into a welcoming, handicap-accessible, updated space with an art room, library and computer lab, added classroom space, more bathrooms and the multipurpose recreation room.
In just a few years, the Columbus Rotary Service Above Self awards program has had a direct effect on the Columbus community. Don Kelley, a 2005 honoree for his varied community support and volunteer efforts, was so moved by his award and the Rotary commitment that he donated $100,000 to establish a program that provides free dictionaries to all third graders in Columbus Public Schools.
“Columbus Rotary has a 98-year history of service to this community,” says Columbus Rotary President, Rod Stinehart, “Since volunteer service is what Rotary is all about, we feel these individuals deserve recognition for their commitment. And, we hope this awareness inspires others to serve.”
On March 10, 2008, with the support of WOSU, Columbus Rotary will name its Fourth Annual Service Above Self Award recipients. Thomas Moyer, Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court and honorary Columbus Rotary member, will present the awards.
Each award winner will receive a $1,000 check for the charity of their choice, a Paul Harris Fellowship Medal of Commendation and a $1,000 donation in their name to the Rotary Foundation for the achievement of world understanding and peace.
Columbus Rotary is actively seeking nominations for individuals deserving of these honors. Nominees must reside or work in the Greater Columbus area and they must be volunteers in the course of their service. Rotarians and their immediate family members are not eligible. Nominations forms are available on the club Web site at www.ColumbusRotary.org and are due to the Rotary office by November 30, 2007. For more information, call the Rotary office, 614-221-3127.
Columbus Rotary is 500 diverse business and professional leaders who provide exemplary leadership and high ethical standards through volunteer commitments to youth, community, vocational, international and club service according to the values of the Rotary Four-Way Test.
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Past issues of Airfare:
April 2007 Airfare
May 2007 Airfare
June 2007 Airfare
July 2007 Airfare
August 2007 Airfare
September 2007 Airfare
October 2007 Airfare
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