459th ARW Airman helps to honor WWII veterans

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Steve Lewis
  • 459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. --  Staff Sgt. Katherine "Michele" Jordan is an Aerospace Ground Equipment specialist with the 459th Maintenance Squadron here. She spends most of her week wearing many hats in her career field.

On any given day, Sergeant Jordan provides power to the KC-135 Stratotanker here and checks tire pressure on wheels strong enough to carry the weight of an aircraft filled with fuel.

Sergeant Jordan is also the unit's training monitor and mother of two daughters. When it comes to Air Force core values, there's one out of the three that stands out especially both in her duties here and in her personal life.

Service before self.

When Sergeant Jordan isn't working to keep the engines running and caring for her family, she spends her free time as a volunteer for the Honor Flight Network.

Formed in May 2005, the HFN is a non-profit organization with a mission of giving thanks to war veterans for their sacrifices. Currently, the HFN gives priority to senior veterans of World War II and veterans who are terminally ill.

Utilizing a system of chartered commercial aircraft and ground transportation, the HFN brings veterans to Washington, DC, for a tour of their own memorials at no cost.

Through donations, support and volunteerism, the HFN operates out of 71 hubs in the U.S. Locally, veterans are transported to three different airports in Baltimore, Md., Arlington, Va., and DC.

When veterans arrive at the airport terminals, Sergeant Jordan joins a large group of fellow servicemembers, civilian volunteers and airline passengers in providing a warm welcome to DC.

Witnessing such a reception has caused several veterans to break down in tears as they reach the terminal. Most of them are caught by surprise after being honored by such a large crowd of grateful supporters.

"I've cried a time or two myself after seeing their expressions," Sergeant Jordan said. "The veterans have even hugged me and thanked me for my service."

After greeting veterans at the airport, Sergeant Jordan joins other HFN volunteers as they assist the veterans in boarding busses and taking them on a tour of their memorials.

Recently, the South Alabama Honor Flight visited DC and toured several memorials including the WWII and Iwo Jima memorials. The veterans ended their tour at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., where they participated in the Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Charles Holloway, an infantryman during WWII, was among the veterans in the South Alabama Honor Flight visiting DC. Like many others, this was his first time touring the nation's capitol.

"I enjoyed my visit today," Mr. Holloway said. "It was a little tiring, but very good."

Helping veterans like Mr. Holloway enjoy their DC visit is something Sergeant Jordan does often. Since she's been a volunteer, Sergeant Jordan has greeted 150 flights arriving at the airport and has aided HFN veterans in over 25 tours.

Alaina Carter, an HFN coordinator and ground crew member at Reagan National Airport (DCA), Va., has been a main point of contact for Sergeant Jordan and other HFN volunteers in the National Capital Region.

"I've always counted on Michele and have asked her to fill in to volunteer when someone backs out," Ms. Carter said.

Ms. Carter works with the HFN to coordinate visits to DC from April through November each year. Although volunteers can come to local airports to greet arriving veterans, she also assigns duties to individuals wishing to assist veterans throughout their entire visit. These duties range from guardians who oversee the safety of each veteran, to tour guides who provide information about DC's many historic attractions.

"There weren't a lot of servicemembers involved when I first started. But now there's a strong group of people and the veterans really do appreciate seeing people in uniform when they arrive here," Ms. Carter said.

As for Sergeant Jordan, she said she'll continue to volunteer for the HFN as long as she's able to. Between completing her education, working as an Air Reserve Technician here and caring for her family, she still finds time to help others in need.

"These veterans were a vital part of our nation's defense and it makes me proud to help them out. Volunteering is fulfilling and I hope more of us do it," Sergeant Jordan said.

459th Air Refueling Wing Airmen and their family members who'd like to join Sergeant Jordan in volunteering for the HFN can visit www.honorflight.org for more information. Alternatively, Ms. Carter can also be contacted at dca.honorflight@gmail.com to learn more about volunteer opportunities.