Honor Flight Northeast Indiana
Guardians are individuals who accompany a Veteran on their trip to Washington D.C. for the day. Typically a guardian is a family member (not a spouse or significant other) or friend and is a generation YOUNGER than the Veteran and in good physical shape.
Guardians will be asked to perform various duties throughout the day including assisting with loading/unloading wheelchairs on the bus, pushing your Veteran in a wheelchair up inclines or down inclines. You will need to be able to assist a Veteran with their medications if necessary, bathroom activities and be fully capable of assisting with any of their medical needs.
Guardians need enough stamina to be able to walk 5 – 7 miles throughout the day without hesitation.
Guardians are also required to make a small donation to Honor Flight of $400 ($409 if paid online with CC). This donation is tax deductible and covers a portion of your participation in the days trip. Your donation is NOT due until the time your Veteran is finally called for their trip. Based on the Veterans service time and when they applied – that wait could be several years.
You will also be required to attend an in-person guardian training session that will last approximately 90 minutes. There will be 2 options available for scheduling purposes. If you are a guardian that lives out of state, options will be made available at the time of your confirmation call.
You will also be subject to a background check. We will ask if you have ever been previously convicted of a felony. This may result in your not being eligible to serve as a guardian.
Finally, you must also know a Veteran to apply as a guardian – meaning – we are not accepting guardian only applications. You will need the name of the Veteran that you are intending to accompany when applying.
If you feel you can qualify to be a guardian, use the links below to apply. The online version is preferred.
Our guardians are not just escorts for the day, they are working people on the trip. First and foremost the priority of a guardian is to ensure that his/her Veteran has a fantastic day and all their needs are met. You are there to be a companion, friend, sounding board, an arm to steady them, a photographer, whatever they need. Especially our Vietnam Veterans – they have seen and been through some of the worst. Many have not yet had closure. You are there to steady them if the get weak, be that arm when they need it.
Guardians are also there to work – helping to unload & load wheelchairs on buses, assist veterans on and off the buses, pitch in whenever necessary. Another aspect – is the ability to stay behind with your veteran if something medically were to happen and the veteran requires local medical assistance that takes them away from our trip – and in rare circumstances – requires them stay behind. Are you willing to do this? If your veteran would become impaired due to illness, could you care for them, push them in a wheelchair all day, if necessary? To be that comfort, that stead fast person they will need if they have to stay behind. If you have questions about this – do not hesitate to talk to an HFNEI board member.
