Honor Flight coordinator Kathy Mansur and WWII Veteran Helen Glass receive $1000 check from TWOQC President Peggy McGee.
Janice Pell
To honor those who gave so much, TWOQC has contributed $1000 to sponsor a WWII veteran to a free three day trip to Washington D.C. with the nonprofit Honor Flight Tucson organization. At the May 19 meeting, guest speaker Kathy Mansur, volunteer veterans’ coordinator for Southern Arizona Honor Flights for WWII Veterans, told the members about this inspiring program and its mission to provide every veteran who wishes to see their memorial in the nation’s capital a chance to do so. For many of the veterans this is the opportunity to fulfill the dream of seeing not only the WWII Monument erected in their honor in 2004, but also to visit many other sights in our nation’s capital including the Women’s Memorial and Arlington Cemetery.
A surprise guest at the meeting was 92 year old Helen Anderson Glass, former U.S. Navy WAVE AMM 2nd Class, one of the almost 400 to fly on a Tucson Honor Flight. She spoke to the group about how much the experience meant to her and to all of the veterans. Among the many highlights, she said the packet of letters and cards expressing thanks for their service that every veteran receives on the plane flight home is something they all treasure. At the conclusion of the meeting President Peggy McGee surprised Kathy and Helen with a $1000 check to sponsor a veteran. When told TWOQC would like to send a woman veteran if possible, Mansur said that check would be used for Betty Mae Scott Perkins. As a WAVE, Betty Mae served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946 in communications. She was decorated with a Campaign Ribbon and a World War Two Victory Ribbon. The June 25 to 27 flight she will be on is designated a super senior flight with all honorees being over 90. There will be 22 American heroes on the June trip along with individual guardians, flying at their own expense, to accompany and guide them throughout the trip. Members and residents are encouraged to welcome the flight when it arrives in Tucson on June 27. The flight number and time will be announced at a later date.
For further information about TWOQC meetings, visit their website at womenqc.com or contact Peggy McGee at [email protected] or 207-6188 or Janice Pell at [email protected] or 867-6262.