Since World War I, The Salvation Army has been known for its love and support for service personnel. Archives are replete with photos of Salvationists serving coffee and donuts. From the trenches of France to the United Service Organization (USO) Clubs to canteens in the South Pacific, The Salvation Army has provided prayers, comfort, hope—and donuts.
In 2008 a group of 12 Quad City citizens came together to plan the first of what would become 60 Honor Flights. One of them, Steve Garrington, was a Salvation Army Advisory Board member and son of Salvation Army officers.
Knowing the history, Steve approached the corps officers stationed in the Quad Cities with a fantastic opportunity. The Salvation Army could continue its tradition of supplying donuts to soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines—now aging veterans—flying to Washington D.C. The officers would need to be at the airport at 5:30 a.m. to meet the 165 veterans and guardians with cups of coffee and, of course, donuts.
Steve paid for the donuts that first year and then found other funding sources for future outreach at the Honor Flights. It continues to this day. Four times a year, The Salvation Army assembles at the airport to serve coffee and donuts, to share a smile and listening ear and express appreciation. Over 5,500 veterans and 4,000 guardians have flown from the Quad Cities to see the monuments erected in our nation’s capital in their honor. Seeing the uniform and receiving a donut, many have shared a story.
“It is a great privilege for us to serve these men and women who have sacrificed so much for us,” said Lana Tranchitella, North & Central Illinois Division central emergency disaster services manager. “It makes my heart happy that these veterans come back from Honor Flights knowing how much they matter, the difference they’ve made, the love and respect we have for them. That’s the goal, and I feel Honor Flight fulfills that so well. I’m grateful The Salvation Army can have a part in that.”
