Honor Flight “Thunderbolt” connecting new bonds for life – John A. Cianci

by John A. Cianci, contributing writer

Late Saturday night and into the early morning hours on Sunday, families, supporters, and friends greeted 42 of Rhode Island’s living heroes on Honor Flight “Thunderbolt” coming in from Washington D.C.

The flight was the 27th Honor Flight organized by the R.I. Honor Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub since 2012. In the group were 2 World War Veterans, Rooco Maraccio, 101, and Roland Theroux , 95, who, while in Washington D.C would lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown during a ceremony. 

Over 100 family members of the veterans, friends, and supporters came to greet the veterans upon returning from Washington D.C – all to shouts and loud applause.

During the cheering, Scouts from Troop 8, Cranston, and Troop 1, Wakefield, stood saluting. The scouts held the salute for several minutes until given the order to end the salute once the final honor flight veterans passed by.

A total of 42 honor flight veterans were on the flight; including 2 WWII, 7 Korean/Vietnam, 1 Korean, 28 Vietnam, and 1 Cuban Missile Crisis. All honor flight veterans had escorts comprised of family members, veterans and other volunteers. In total, honor flight veterans and 53 veterans were on the airplane. 

“Amazing day and so emotional for all, not only the hero veterans, but their escorts and all of the Rhode Island Honor Fire Chiefs Honor Flight support group,” said one of the escorts, Kimberly Wineman, who was asked only hours before the flight to be one of the escorts. 

Hours after receiving the call to be an escort, Wineman would meet retired SGM Arthur W Head, who she would be assigned to as his escort.

Retired Army Sergeant Majors (SGM) Arthur W. Head and James C Tourgee Jr. were two of the veterans on the flight. “Never met before, until waiting in line to chat. On the bus their conversation continued; you could see the connection,”  said Wineman,  who told RINEWSTODAY the two retired sergeant majors meeting seemed meant to be. SGM Tourgee would be escorted by Department of RI VFW State Commander, Tiger Patrick. According to Patrick, SGM Tourgee’s escort, “Those two bonded quickly and pretty much they spent the day laughing and lamenting while looking for their “guardians” (Kimberly and I).”

Patrick told RINEWSTODAY, while talking to one of the WWII veterans, he asked him about all the pins he had on his hat, “he told me they were all gifts from many girlfriends that he met while in the war.” Unknown to RINEWSTODAY until talking to Wineman on Sunday for follow up on her feelings about being one of the escorts, RINEWSTODAY had interviewed SGM Head’s wife, Janet Labrecque, at the airport while she was patiently waiting to welcome home her husband from the honor flight. She stood holding a sign, “Welcome Home SGM Arthur Head, We Love You. Thank You”.

SGM Head’s wife detailed her husband’s tours of duty in combat; Vietnam, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and 4 other combat tours in the Army after switching from the Marines.

All Honor Flight veterans are required to have an escort. The majority of escorts are family members, however, like Wineman, some are volunteers.

Honor Flight veterans, escorts, and support staff for the flight arrived in the early morning hours on Saturday. SGM Tourgee escort was the VFW Department Commander Tiger Patrick, who I greeted at the bottom of the escalator with the typical welcome home hug often brothers and sisters give each to returning veterans. A few weeks ago, Tiger and I attended an information meeting for Honor Flight veterans and their escorts. After Tiger attended the information meeting, and being a Desert Storm combat veteran he was more than honored to be selected as one of the escorts. Unlike Kimberly, this flight would be Tigers first.  “Amazing and humbling. Glad we teamed up with you two,” posted SGM Tourgee on his Facebook page in connecting with SGM Head Wineman.

Veterans do not have to serve in combat to be considered for the Honor Flight,” said Chief George S. Farrell. Those interested in participating as a veteran in an Honor Flight, can go to R.I Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub’s website for an application, https://www.rihonorflight.com or contact Farrell via email at: [email protected] or for those with limited access to computers, Farrell can be reached at: (401) 741-7999. “Veterans do not have had to serve in combat to be considered for the Honor Flight,” said Chief George S. Farrell.

The returning veterans appeared to be exhausted upon arriving at TF Green airport in Warwick. Family and loved ones welcomed them home one more time before departing with their veteran to go home.

Retired SGM Tourgee said, “Amazing and humbling,” on a day he will never forget, especially with a new friend he met, retired SGM Head. They connected and will remain friends post Honor Flight Thunderbolt. 

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To read all columns in this series go to: https://rinewstoday.com/john-a-cianci/

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John A. Cianci is a Veteran Service Officer. Retired, U.S. Army MSgt., Persian Gulf War and Iraq War combat theater.

Cianci, a combat disabled Veteran, served in Desert Shield/Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. His awards include Bronze Star, Combat Action Badge, Good Conduct, and others.

Cianci belongs to numerous veterans organizations – Italian American War Veterans, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign War, United Veterans Council of Rhode Island, and many more organizations. He is an active volunteer assisting veterans to navigate federal and state benefits they have earned. He is Department of Rhode Island Department Commander Italian American War Veterans and Veteran Service Officer.

He is a graduate of Roger Williams University (BS Finance), UCONN business school* (Entrepreneur Bootcamp for Veterans), Solar Energy International Residential, Commercial and Battery Based Photovoltaic Systems certificate programs, numerous certificates from the Department of Defense renewable energy programs, including graduate of the Solar Ready Vets Program.