Geneva Woods donates 25 wheelchairs to the Honor Flight program

WASILLA — Geneva Woods recently donated 25 wheelchairs to the Alaska chapter of the Honor Flight program, a national, non-profit organization that provides U.S. military veterans with free, round trips to Washington D.C.

“To me, it’s the least we can do to give back to them,” Gan Welland, General Manager for Geneva Woods Health Care Services said.

Several Geneva Woods staff, Honor Flight volunteers and Wasilla Sunrise Rotary members gathered at Geneva Woods, off the Seward Meridian Highway on Monday to accept and transport the wheelchairs. The wheelchairs will stay in storage until they are used for their sole purpose: assisting the veterans on each and every flight.

“It’s the least we can do for our vets,” Honor Flight volunteer John Glass said.

For now, Glass will store the wheelchairs at his house, until he can find a storage unit in Anchorage. Having the unit in Anchorage, ideally closer to the airport, he said.

There’s been a total 10 flights since 2012. Flights leave twice a year, typically leaving in April and October, according to Ron Travis, founder of the Alaskan chapter for the Honor Flight program. There is a special focus on WWII veterans, according to the Alaskan Honor Flight website.

“It takes a lot of heavy lifting to get this program to work; and there’s no downside to the program,” Travis said as his eyes started to well.

When Travis recalled how he ended up starting the Honor Flight program in Alaska, it was a short and sweet, matter of fact.

“Alaska didn’t have one; someone should do that,” he chuckled.

Glass and Travis were both in the Alaska Peace Officers Association (APOA). One day, Travis gave a presentation about the Honor Flight program. Glass thought it was a “hell of a good idea” to start the Honor Flight program in a state with one of the highest rates of veterans.

“I can blame him for my participation,” Glass laughed. “He sold me on it. It’s a good cause.”

According to Travis, Alaska Airlines has been very supportive and generous over the years, paying for all of the honor flight veterans offering discounts for their guardians’ tickets, and even providing free meals.

Travis said that Alaska Airlines painted up one of their planes in the red, white and blue, dedicating it to the Honor Flight program.

Tony Craven, Warehouse Supervisor for Geneva Woods Health Care Services is an Air Force veteran and he helps out with the Honor Flight each year and he said that he usually sees the veterans off at the airport and welcomes them back like countless others during the big welcoming parade.

“To me, it was a no-brainer,” Craven said.

Craven said that his wife’s WWII veteran grandfather went on an honor flight and one day, he hopes to go on a trip, too.

“So now, it’s a family thing,” Craven said.

The veterans will be treated like “royalty” during the entire trip and will get a royal welcome when they return, with scores of people coming together for a visual splendor of support, tried-and-true for the red, white and blue.

“It’s a serious parade. To see them come home is life changing,” Welland said.