Honor Flight Brings Washington Memorials to The Timbers Residents

Honor Flight of Southern Indiana mounted a virtual tour of the Washington, D.C., memorials at The Timbers long term care facility in Jasper on Saturday, delivering a formal recognition and celebratory parade for veterans who were unable to travel. Organizers say the event provided plaques, certificates, music, a mail call and a parade through the facility to honor each veteran, replicating the hero welcome that participants usually receive after visiting the memorials in person.

The initiative grew out of volunteer outreach. Maria Rayborn, a volunteer with Honor Flight, discovered that some veterans on the scheduled trip list from The Timbers had recently died or could not travel for health reasons. After learning that 10 additional veterans at the facility would be unable to take the trip, Rayborn and The Timbers activities director Kim Willett collaborated to bring the Honor Flight program to the residents. Organizers described the event as a historic moment for the program, marking the first time a virtual Honor Flight was held inside a long term care facility.

The veterans honored represented all branches of the military. The oldest attendee was Gilbert Hochgesang, age 101, a World War II veteran, and the youngest was Craig Bateman, a Persian Gulf veteran who served in the Army National Guard. The program included presentation of certificates, volunteers delivering letters and gifts, and a group mail call during which packages filled with letters of appreciation were distributed to each veteran.

The event illustrates a practical adaptation by a nonprofit volunteer organization to demographic realities. As more veterans grow older and face mobility and health limitations, local programs that once relied on travel and large gatherings must pivot toward bringing commemorative experiences to care settings. Terry Storms, committee chair for the Virtual Honor Flights, explained that providing virtual tours is increasingly important as more aging veterans become unable to travel. Honor Flight of Southern Indiana plans another virtual reality experience in Evansville on December 6.

For Dubois County residents and public officials, the event raises questions about how community institutions can sustain recognition and support for aging veterans. The effort depended on volunteer labor, facility staff coordination, and donated materials. Local policymakers can consider whether targeted resources or formal partnerships between county services, veterans organizations and long term care providers would help scale similar programs, reduce reliance on ad hoc volunteer efforts, and ensure equitable access for veterans across care settings.

The Jasper event also demonstrates civic engagement in action. Community members who write letters, donate items, or volunteer time help preserve public memory and provide social connection for veterans who served decades ago. As veteran populations age, the model used at The Timbers may serve as a template for other facilities seeking to honor residents while confronting transportation and health barriers.