Cumberland Valley Electric sponsoring local heroes on Honor Flight

Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives are excited to announce Honor Flight 2023 will depart Blue Grass Airport this Saturday, Sept. 16 for Washington, D.C. The flight will transport 68 Kentucky veterans to see their memorials on the National Mall. A welcome home reception is scheduled for approximately 8:15 p.m. at the airport. The public is invited to attend.

This is the 12th year Cumberland Valley Electric has sponsored an Honor Flight. Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives began working with Honor Flight in 2010 to honor Kentucky’s veterans.

This flight will carry one World War II, eight Korean War veterans and two women veterans, who will be inducted into the Military Women’s Memorial during the trip. The other veterans served our country during the Vietnam War. Two Purple Heart recipients are amongst the veterans on this trip.

“I’m proud of my service and I’d do it all over again,” said Harrison County resident and Purple Heart recipient Barry Gene Roseberry, who was wounded in August of 1969 with six weeks left in his tour. “I feel very lucky. I got a piece of shrapnel in my wrist and had a hunk taken out of my leg.”

Jim Rains, a Whitley County cattle farmer, was severely wounded both by shrapnel from bombs and bullet wounds in 1969. Numerous scars on his body are a testimony to his braveness, toughness, and service to his country. Rains received the Purple Heart as a result of his wounds.

What Rains said he remembers the most about Vietnam, and Da Nang specifically, where he spent most of his time were “the weather, the heat, the rain, the jungle, and the mosquitoes.”

Another local hero, Navy Veteran Earl Adkins from Whitley County will be on the flight. Earl served most of his war time on a ship off the coast of Vietnam serving fighter jets.

The 2023 mission will again be coordinated by Honor Flight Kentucky. “It’s a privilege to be able to fly these veterans to their memorials, and it’s an opportunity to serve them in some small way to repay their service to our nation and our community,” said Cumberland Valley Electric’s Rich Prewitt. From our Manager Ted Hampton, our Board of Directors, and each and every employee here at Cumberland Valley Electric, we thank you for your service to our Country.

“Honor Flight is a significant part of Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperative’s commitment to our local communities,” Prewitt said.

As in years past, veterans will fly from Lexington to Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., where they will board buses for a full day of honors and sightseeing.

The day includes viewing the changing-of-the-guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. Honor Flight representatives will participate in a wreath-laying service at the tomb.