FOLLOW UP TO HONOR FLIGHT INFO FROM YESTERDAY
Everyone,
The information that I had yesterday , that prompted my email last evening
was a misconception. The information was a verbal one from some of the
other hubs in Ohio and came to our attention this week because our flight is
coming up.
The directive had been circulating around the other Ohio hubs for several
weeks, as I understand it.
The email below from the Public Affairs office of the Ohio National Guard is
below. This should clear it up .
I personally talked to General Harris earlier today and he assured me that
he never said that Honor Flight was a political organization and he is not
sure how or why this was said on his behalf. He was very adamant about the
fact that he understands what Honor Flight is and Honor Flight has his
complete support.
Thanks,
Cheryl
-----Original Message-----
From: France, Matthew J MAJ USARMY NG OHARNG (USA)
Sent: Monday, April 15, 2019 4:02 PM
Subject: Ohio National Guard Statement Regarding Honor Flight
Ms. Popp-
Below is the statement from the Ohio National Guard regarding honor flight.
I will call you now to ensure you receive it.
----
The Ohio Adjutant General's Department oversees community outreach support
to approximately 300 events every year. Many of those events occur during
Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
Decisions about providing uniformed assistance for an outreach event are
based on the legal application of federal policy that regulates official use
of military uniform.
To be clear, personal and political opinions are not a part of the
decision-making process, and Honor Flights are not considered political
activities.
Ohio National Guard members are not prohibited from supporting Honor Flight.
Generations of patriots, including a long lineage of past and present Ohio
National Guard members, have dedicated themselves to the defense of our
country. Much of the Ohio National Guard's success depends on the support
Veterans provide to our Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen and their families.
The exceptional efforts of Honor Flight and many other worthy organizations
to help those patriots is to be commended.
----
V/R,
Matthew J. France
MAJ, FA
Director, Government and Public Affairs
Joint Force Headquarters - Ohio National Guard
Office: 614.336.7269
Cell: 614.593.1665
matthew.j.france.mil@mail.mil
Adjutant General's Department
2825 West Dublin Granville Road
Columbus, Ohio 43235-2789
614-336-7000
The Ohio National Guard Public Affairs Office approves all support requests.
Please call 614-336-4499 should you have questions regarding your request.
To leave a telephone message for any representative or senator,
Call the Ohio Legislative Information Hotline at 800-282-0253.Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Here is the highest ranking public official for the State of Ohio for Veteran’s Affairs:
Representative Rick Perales
Chair: Armed Services and Veterans Affairs Committee, and the Ohio Aerospace and Aviation Technology Committee for the 133rd General Assembly
District 73
77 S. High St
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone (614) 644-6020
Fax (614) 719-3970
Here are the local Representatives for Ohio House Districts 27-33 (Hamilton County):
Thomas E. Brinkman Jr. (R)
District 27
77 S. High St
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 644-6886
Jessica E. Miranda (D)
District 28
77 S. High St
10th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-8120
Louis W. Blessing III(R)
District 29
77 S. High St
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-9091
Bill Seitz (R)
District 30
Majority Floor Leader
77 S. High St
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-8258
Brigid Kelly (D)
District 31
77 S. High St
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-5786
Catherine D. Ingram(D)
District 32
77 S. High St
10th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-1645
Sedrick Denson (D)
District 33
77 S. High St
10th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-1308
It has come to our attention this weekend that the Adjunct for Ohio, General Harris, has decided that an Honor Flight is a POLITICAL event ! He has handed down an edict that no Ohio National Guard troops may participate in anything to do with Honor Flightwhile in Uniform!! He had deemed it a political event and they cannot participate. Ohio will be the only place in the United States where such a ridiculous policy is in place.
As you know, Honor Flight has nothing to do with politics and it is one of the most PATRIOTIC events you can participate in at any time !.
It is obvious that he does not understand what an Honor Flight is – and he needs to be pressured into doing the right thing
I have already sent a note to Governor DeWine and am now soliciting your help with this.
We have had Ohio National Guard members in attendance at our send off and Welcome Home Rally for years and the veterans love to see them. Other branches of the service honoring the heroes for their service . Seriously...........
Can you help us ?? – the only way to get this overturned is to have an uproar from Civilians and for us to complain vigorously on their behalf.
The chain of command has their hands tied but it will be sufficient to say that they are 100% behind Honor Flight.
We need emails sent to the Governors office and the Adjunct Generals office
We need calls to the Governors office
We need calls to the Adjunct General of the Ohio National Guard’s Office.......