Honor Flight at Home celebrates those who served and sacrificed

Special to the Marion Star
Updated ·3 min read

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Marion County is home to thousands of veterans. For veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam who cannot travel to Washington, D.C., local volunteers led by Margie Saull are working to honor them in a ceremony at Tri-Rivers Career Center at 2 p.m. June 8.

Saull, a retired teacher from Marion City Schools, started Marion’s Honor Flight at Home ceremony after attending one in Florida with her father, Charles Sheets, a veteran of World War II.

Retired teacher Margie Saull of Marion took her father, Charles Sheets, a veteran of World War II, to an Honor Flight at Home ceremony in Florida and decided to bring the program to Ohio.
Retired teacher Margie Saull of Marion took her father, Charles Sheets, a veteran of World War II, to an Honor Flight at Home ceremony in Florida and decided to bring the program to Ohio.

“I had heard about many veterans going to Washington, D.C., on honor flights. My dad was not able to fly because he had some health issues affecting his ears,” Saull said. “We were in Florida and we took him to an Honor Flight at Home event. I thought, what an incredible opportunity for the veterans who are unable to travel.”

Saull and her family returned home. She spent a year working with the Honor Flight Columbus to plan the event. The first one was held in August 2018.

“Thirty-two veterans were honored. The auditorium was packed,” Saull recalls.

Her father was among the first veterans to participate. He died in 2019.

“I’m glad he got to be honored. That’s what we need to do − honor veterans before it’s too late,” Saull said.

In four years, more than 100 veterans have been honored at the Honor Flight at Home ceremonies. The 2023 event was held at Tri-Rivers Career Center. The Honor Flight at Home Marion event is open to Ohio veterans aged 65 and older who have served on active duty from 1941 to 1975.
In four years, more than 100 veterans have been honored at the Honor Flight at Home ceremonies. The 2023 event was held at Tri-Rivers Career Center. The Honor Flight at Home Marion event is open to Ohio veterans aged 65 and older who have served on active duty from 1941 to 1975.

So far, about 100 veterans have been honored, which is the equivalent of a planeload of veterans on an honor flight.

Open to Ohio veterans ages 65 and older, serving 1941-75

The Honor Flight at Home Marion event is open to Ohio veterans aged 65 and older who have served on active duty from 1941 to 1975. Veterans may not have participated on an honor flight previously and may not be able to travel to Washington , D.C.

Veterans must fill out an application by May 25 by contacting Saull at 740-360-8902 or by email at saullgw4@yahoo.com.

Each veteran receives a picture with the American flag. The ceremony includes an honor guard, music and giveaways. Families and the public are also invited to take part.

Veterans were invited to stand and sing when the anthem of their specific branch of the military was played during the Honor Flight at Home event last year. To day, about 100 veterans have been honored, which is the equivalent of a planeload of veterans on an Honor Flight to D.C.
Veterans were invited to stand and sing when the anthem of their specific branch of the military was played during the Honor Flight at Home event last year. To day, about 100 veterans have been honored, which is the equivalent of a planeload of veterans on an Honor Flight to D.C.

For some veterans who were not welcomed home warmly, this ceremony can be especially meaningful.

Rewarding and worthwhile program

“We had a Vietnam veteran in 2019 who wasn’t sure he wanted to come. I said we’d be glad to honor you. Two weeks later, I received a note. He wrote to say all those feelings that had been built up inside of him all those years were totally erased in one afternoon. That makes the program rewarding and worthwhile,” Saull said.

Margie’s husband, retired principal and teacher Fred Saull, also works to coordinate the event. Dozens of volunteers and donors work to make the day memorable from the moment veterans check in at 1 p.m.

“We have a motorcycle group who will help escort veterans in. We have Explorers to help park cars. On the day of the event, we have at least 50 people who are helping. There is great support from the community,” Saull said.

In addition, schoolchildren are writing letters to thank each veteran for their service to read after the ceremony.

Qualifying Ohio veterans should contact Margie Saull to apply for Honor Flight at Home Marion by Wednesday in order to order T-shirts and other gifts.
Qualifying Ohio veterans should contact Margie Saull to apply for Honor Flight at Home Marion by Wednesday in order to order T-shirts and other gifts.

Saull recalls going to a memory care unit to see a veteran who had participated in the Honor Flight At Home event.

“Somehow, we had missed taking this veteran’s picture at the event. We went to his memory care unit to take his photo with the flag. He waved and recognized me. He had received a patriotic quilt, which he proudly showed us was now on his bed,” Saull said.

The Marion County Historical Society supports the event by providing presidential re-enactors to make the day special.

“We are the home of the free because of the brave,” Saull said.

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marion area veterans invited to Honor Flight at Home ceremony in June