Ask Jeff Joyce, a long time Honor Chicago volunteer, what his favorite memorial is and he is quick with a reply. “Vietnam Memorial.” Knowing each name on the wall is not just a name, but a person – a child, parent, sibling – that had a story and future that was cut short by his/her service, is so emotional. Jeff has a personal connection to that memorial as well since his father, an Air Force officer of 29 years, served in Vietnam. Following in his father’s footsteps, Jeff spent 20 years in the Air Force before retiring in 2003.
Since then, Jeff has been an active volunteer with many veteran related organizations. Through his work as a former National Parks Service volunteer at the World War II Memorial, he would often see honor flights coming for visits. When a request went out for greeters at the Dulles airport, Jeff signed up and quickly realized he wanted to do more. He became a DC-based guardian and has now been part of Honor Flight Chicago for 10 years, serving as a volunteer on over 35 flights.
Jeff also spends his free time working at the Udvar-Hazy as a docent. This easily makes the visit to this museum at the end of the trip his favorite part of the day. After an early morning and long, sometimes emotional day of touring monuments, the museum is a fan favorite for most veterans. Oftentimes, Honor Flight Chicago will pair Jeff with other Air Force veterans for their day in Washington DC. He particularly enjoys this as he can learn first hand knowledge about the planes he reads and talks about while working at the museum. It is an amazing gift to meet and talk to B-17 pilots or E-29 flight engineers who flew combat or worked on these impressive planes. Jeff believes we should all be so fortunate to experience it before these veterans are gone, because it is so much better than reading about it in a book.
Because Jeff has been on so many of Honor Flight Chicago’s flights over the years, he has gotten to be a part of some amazing experiences. He particularly is grateful to have been at the World War II Memorial when General Colin Powell greeted and spoke to the veterans on a flight in April of 2017. He also recalled getting to meet and have his picture taken with Senator Bob Dole and the many veterans visiting several years ago. However, Jeff is quick to say that all honor flights are a gift, as it allows people to interact with and learn from someone who lived history. Whether he gets to shake a veteran’s hand and say thank you or spend time throughout the day getting to know about a specific veteran’s life before, during and after their service, he describes it as an experience one won’t ever forget. Volunteering with Honor Flight Chicago has provided Jeff with many new friends and allowed him to give something back to those who gave their time in service to our country. The veterans often share with Jeff that their Honor Flight Chicago experience was a highlight of their life. To Jeff, these veterans have brought history to life for him, allowing their voices and their legacy to live on long after they are gone. That is truly a priceless gift for this special Honor Flight Chicago volunteer.
For your many years of service to Honor Flight Chicago, we thank you Jeff!
Whether he gets to shake a veteran’s hand and say thank you or spend time throughout the day getting to know about a specific veteran’s life before, during and after their service, Jeff describes it as an experience one won’t ever forget.