Villages Honor Flight Ground Coordination

1. Villages Honor FlightGround Coordination All They Did Was Save The World

2. Six Months from Flight • Contact A.L. for availability • Coordinate with ticketmeister re ticket prices • Get recreation center for the FHF • Contact entertainers

3. 3 Months from Flight • Contact “Officials” ( Dave Miller) • L.L.P.D (Police escort) • Villages Fire & Safety Dept. (Fire Truck & Lights) • L.L. Fire & Safety Dept. • Village Nomads • A.L. Honor Guard • SCPD (for FHF)

4. 3 Months from Flight (cont) • Lamers bus: must have schedule for all known flights, including pick up times at storage unit • Buglers: now have a bugler schedule • Quilts : now have a lap robe schedule • Chaplain • Village Cheerleaders: Village Twirlers: Clown Alley 179 • Cert • Numbers for chairs – alter depending on number of vets • Check Merchandise stock

5. Wheelchairs • Committee of people to oversee this • Need vehicles to transport wheelchairs to A.L. • Repairs need to be made • Decide number of w/c at pre-flights, reunions, flights • Lamersbus will pick up w/c at storage unit • Check with MXO on how many w/c per flight • Check all w/c have Honor Flight covers

6. Flight Day: Set-up/Send-off • Set up/Send Off now merged into one • Everyone has been contacted one week ahead • Check the opening time with the AL • Check they will supply donuts & coffee & bananas • Check enough vols for moving tables, check in lines(BH), red hats • Check we have colored tablecloths • Check we have water - on the bus • Check the weather; may bring ponchos, gloves & socks if necessary

7. Flight Day:Set-up/Send-off (cont) • Pick up supplies from storage unit: flashlights, reflector vests, caution tape, • Hang Welcome Vets banner • Check room sketch setup for the flight • Squad tables at the front • Tables at rear of room for HG & visitors • Make sure wide space for the H.G. • Verify mic. is working • Get E/C list from FD

8. Check List for Send-off • Police card hasn’t shown up twice – message wasn’t passed along • Introduce bugler & chaplain to the FD if necessary • Provide FD with any announcements – e.g., quilter names, bugler, special guests • Remember to put water on the bus • Check with Tom Cruce if room needs to be reconfigured

9. Red Hats • Available at send off to meet & greet the vets and escort them to their squad tables • People always parked in the spots in front of the AL • Cones are useless – people just remove them • Member posted outside the Lounge to escort patrons to their cars and to exit round the back of the A.L. • Must keep space clear for buses and fire trucks to enter • No alcohol in the parking lot: red hats monitor this

10. Homecoming • Arrive one hour before entertainment starts. Villages are always early • Tom Cruce usually has chairs in hallway near the office. Have someone put the numbers on the chairs • Tape off the entertainment area • Set up sales table--have enough merchandise ordered beforehand • Bring boxes of flags to give out • Remainder of quilts & mail call & hats are ready to put on vets’ chairs • Reflector vests, flashlights available • Bottled water to sell • Prepare list of thank you notes • Set up chairs when MXO calls that they are 20 mins. away

11. Homecoming (cont) • MXO in touch all the time • Buses arrive: crowd control around the buses • Cheerleaders lead vet/guardian to their seat • When vets are seated entertainment plays “God bless the USA” • FD says a few words: Ode of Remembrance: Taps • Introduction of vets • Meet & greet the vets: cheerleaders control this

12. Scramble Time • Flight too early: Flight too late • People parking in the wrong places (behind the A.L.) • Members lounge – must avoid complaints • No coolers: no alcohol • Chairs put out when buses 20 minutes out • Check with A.L.- make sure no nasty surprises • Entertainers couldn’t play CD music • Thank you’s - remember to thank the crowds of people • Use the Cheerleaders /Twirlers for crowd control • Have squad data sheet at all times –tons of questions • Tape Incident: lost bugler: HG placement • Weather

13. Succession Plan • Not leaving HF but I would like to fly twice a year and there are two FHF where I can’t be at Homecoming. • Need someone to take over the actual homecoming. All the preparations would already be made. • Not fair to rely on Barbara & Joyce as they also have their pre-flights to do • Any volunteers?