Above / Individuals can help Operation HerStory take flight by spreading word about first-ever Illinois Honor Flight for women only on Wed., Oct. 7, 2020. Women who served in the military between 1940 and 1975 are encouraged to participate. Many impressive monuments in the World War II Memorial, such as the one pictured, are among the stops along the National Mall during every Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. (PN File Photo)
Updated Post, Sept. 26, 2021 / Operation HerStory is partnering with Honor Flight to take female Veterans who served during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War to Washington, D.C., on Oct. 6, 2021. Four of the women flying are Naperville residents who served during Vietnam.
Surrounded by banners promoting the inaugural Operation HerStory flight in 2020 as well as a Quilt of Valor, Master Sergeant Ginny Narsete, US Air Force (Retired), a Vietnam veteran and former Chief of Staff for the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs, recounted the history of her dream during festivities on Sept. 26, 2021, at the Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873 in Naperville.
The flight is set to take off early on Wed., Oct. 6, after being postponed last year due to the pandemic.
Original Post, Jan. 15, 2020 / Veteran’s groups across Illinois are joining forces to launch the first-ever Illinois Honor Flight for women only. Known as “Operation HerStory,” everyone is invited to encourage military women who served from World War II through Vietnam to participate, helping to fill the inaugural flight to Washington, D.C., on October 7, 2020.
What is Operation HerStory?
Operation HerStory honors women veterans for their service in any branch of the United States Armed Forces. Operation HerStory wants to honor these veterans by making them visible and highlighting their valuable contributions to keeping all of us safe. And Operation HerStory will accomplish this goal with this inaugural Honor Flight for Illinois women veterans on Wed., Oct. 7, 2020.
Operation HerStory aims to ensure that every eligible Illinois women veteran who served between 1940 and 1975 is given the opportunity to participate in this historic all-women Honor Flight. Operation HerStory seeks women veterans who actively served in any branch of the armed services. Candidates do not need to have served in active combat or served overseas to be eligible. Any Illinois woman veteran is eligible.
How to help…
Operation HerStory is looking for 125 women veterans to participate in this historic, inaugural Honor Flight. Folks can help the Operation HerStory organizers identify women and encourage eligible candidates to apply. Find these women among neighbors, church members, community leaders and high school friends on social media.
Any personal knowledge of these women will go a long way toward identifying them and getting them to apply.
The second goal is to raise the necessary funds to make this Honor Flight happen. From all sources, Operation HerStory will need to raise $145,000 to succeed.
This amount of money may sound daunting, but there are relatively painless ways to get started, organizers say.
For example, organizers suggest supporters utilize a “pass-the-can” or “spare change” donation at local club meetings for special projects.
“The third goal is tapping into your considerable talents by volunteering your time,” noted Sarah Dore on behalf of the initiative. “Whether you search for women veterans or can be part of the welcome party at Midway Airport or a medical guardian, Operation HerStory needs you.”
Thanks to partners…
Operation HerStory is a massive effort. The following organizations are partnering together to bring Operation HerStory to flight: NSDAR, Honor Flight Chicago, Illinois Joining Forces and the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
For more information, contact Ginny Narsete at (740) 228-1099 or operationherstory@gmail.com.
Story submitted by Sarah Dore for Operation HerStory. (PN File Photos / Honor Flight Sept. 2016.)
