VA ECHCS Employees Volunteer for Honor Flights, Supporting Veterans
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Amanda Lopez, a VA ECHCS RN with referral coordination team, and Brian Murphy, a VA ECHCS licensed clinical social worker and VA/DOD liaison, recently took part in Honor Flights to Washington, D.C., to help honor and pay respects to veterans in September of 2024.
The Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization which works as an umbrella organization with local chapters and various subgroups to transport veterans to the various war memorials of the respective war they fought in Washington, DC, at no cost to the veterans. These organizations are focused on bringing veterans of World War II to the National World War II Memorial, and any veteran with a terminal illness, to see the memorial of the war they fought in according to the Honor Flight Network website.
For Lopez and Murphy, U.S. Air Force and Navy veterans, respectively, taking part in events such as honor flights is one of many ways they honor the service of those veterans who came before them but also connect with those veterans on a much deeper level.
“I come from a military family,” said Lopez. “My father served during the Vietnam era, my grandfather was in World War II, and I had a great uncle who served in the
Korean War. So, being able to experience this, with those generations of veterans, it just it just helped me feel closer to understanding what my family may have gone through during that time. And it's just to give back to our veterans and to be able to help support.”
Honor Flights are provided free of charge to the veterans who travel on the flights. This helps to alleviate any financial hardships so that they veterans can focus on the journey and the healing that comes with it. Seeing these veterans, many of whom lost comrades while serving, is a harrowing experience that can only be appreciated in person, according to Murphy.
“Probably the most impactful moment that I had was when a Vietnam veteran who I had actually worked at the Vet Center years ago,” said Murphy. “And I had talked to him about for a couple years about coming on this flight and he resisted because he knew it would be so emotionally impactful for him. But myself and another clinician who actually went on the flight with me, we convinced him to come on the flight, and this man was a Silver Star recipient in Vietnam. He came on the flight, and we knew it was going to be an emotional moment for him. But he really broke down at the wall, and, I mean, and let out 50 years of emotions. He talks about how important that was and how it's changed him since that moment, and how he's so thankful that we got him to go on that flight.”
These emotional moments can be overwhelming for the veterans, and because of that, Lopez and Murphy utilize their experience and training as VA ECHCS medical personnel to ensure the veterans they transport have all the medical support they need for the trip.
Along with the trip to the various armed forces memorials, the veterans are also treated to a hero’s welcome throughout the entire trip. From meeting with military members, local students and others, the veterans also lay wreaths at the various memorials, remembering their fallen comrades and showing their respect and pride for their service.
“I think it's just about being proud again and not to be,” said Lopez. “Just to be proud and to be able to show that you're happy to be an American and you're respecting and paying honor to the sacrifices people have made. So, I think just getting awareness out. I mean, seeing people at our welcome home. And it brings a sense of pride.”
Honoring those who served is a cornerstone of VA ECHCS care and the VA itself. Whether it is at the larger hospitals, the smaller clinics or volunteering for events such as Honor Flights, VA ECHCS personnel ensure that the health of its veterans is taken care of whenever and wherever possible. For volunteer opportunities with VA ECHCS, visit the Department of Veteran Affairs website.