Veteran Engagement Committee- Helping our families soar!

  As children, we begin dreaming about what we would like to be when we grow up. Often, at a young age, our dreams might be more steeped in fantasy, like maybe we want to be a princess or President of the United States!. As we grow older, our dreams become more realistic, and we begin pursuing paths to help reach these dreams.

Sometimes, we can go places where we can truly soar!

Isabella (Bella)has always wanted to be a pilot. Bella is fifteen, almost sixteen, is home- schooled, and is one of the young women in our housing programs. Her mother is an Army veteran, and Bella is the oldest child of four. I first met the family over three years ago, when Cherelle (their Case Manager) and I delivered Christmas gifts to a hotel room we had provided after they had left an unsafe situation. I have since watched this beautiful family blossom! They eventually moved into a new home and found peace and stability. I’ve even had the privilege to deliver Christmas gifts to them every year since. They frequently attend our Veteran Engagement Committee events, and one recent event was the Republic Airways Plane Pull. It’s very exciting when we can connect one of our corporate partners with our families!

Republic Airways connected with us last year after the Manchester fire, and we brainstormed ways we could further develop a meaningful partnership. The Plane Pull is an annual event they host and, this year, they invited our families to attend and have fun, see an airplane, and enjoy food and games!

Bella was one of the attendees that day and she left even more motivated to become a pilot. She really wanted an opportunity to see an airplane cockpit and speak with a pilot, and she finally got that chance! I had no idea her dream was to fly But, thankfully, Bella’s mom passed this along and I shared with my contact, Nolan, just in passing.

I could never imagine what happened next…

Willing to mentor Bella and make sure she knows the proper steps to become a licensed pilot, Nolan arranged for her and her mom to tour the Republic Airways Training Facility and go through a flight simulation!

Cherelle and I got to attend as carry-ons. Bella was the pilot and flew the plane beautifully from take-off to landing. She even handled turbulence like a seasoned pro! This further encouraged her dreams, and she told her mom, “It was the best day ever!”

Bella is now looking into attending the Republic Airways Lift Academy and hopes to become one of the only 5% female pilots! There are many ways veterans and their families find success along their journey with HVAF. Sometimes their journey leads to new heights

If you would like to support HVAF and the Veteran Engagement Committee, please contact Andrea at 765-425-3366 or acarlile@hvaf.org.

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