Ninety-three female veterans took part in Illinois’ first all-women honor flight, thanks to the efforts of Operation HerStory in partnership with Honor Flight Chicago and others.
Veteran Katherine Haile spent three years in active duty for the Army in the mid-1970s, followed by about a decade in the Army Reserve.
And yet, the 73-year-old Arlington Heights woman said, she never really thought her contribution was worthy of being highlighted with an honor flight.
That changed after she and 92 other veterans took part in a trip last week to Washington, D.C., during Illinois’ first all-women honor flight.
“When I think of my military service, I didn’t really see that as something unique,” said Haile, whose active duty role was akin to substance abuse counselor. “After experiencing this, it’s kind of like, ‘Yeah! That was a unique thing that I did.'”
The veterans ranged in age from 63 to 104 and included two World War II veterans, seven Korean War veterans and 84 Vietnam War veterans.
The daylong trip Wednesday was organized by the group Operation HerStory, started by veteran Ginny Narsete of Lisle, which fundraised for the event and partnered with Honor Flight Chicago and others.
The group flew to the nation’s capital on a flight chartered by Southwest Airlines and visited the Military Women’s Memorial, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, the Lincoln Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
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