94-year-old Lieutenant Billie Locker of Brownwood was recently able to attend the Honor Flight with her daughter Jenifer Locker Zipp of Midlothian.
The Honor Flight Lt. Locker attended flew out of DFW International Airport in the early morning hours of Tuesday, October 14th, took the veterans to their specific war memorial and returned around midnight. It was a very quick but memorable event that Locker thoroughly enjoyed, according to her family.
“She had a really wonderful trip which wouldn’t have been able to happen without the accompaniment by my sister,” said Locker’s son Brad, also of Brownwood.
Lt. Locker is a World War II Veteran who served as a Registered Nurse with the U. S. Army. She married a U.S. Army Flight Surgeon, Captain Braswell Locker (who passed away in 2008), and has lived in Brownwood for many years since WWII. The Lockers had four children, Dan – retired AF Brig General & physician, Jenifer Zipp – RN who lives in Midlothian and accompanied Locker on Honor Flight, David – retired AF Ltc. Col. and pilot who now flies for Southwest Airlines and lives at Winchell, and Brad – who did not serve in the military but has served many years supporting the military through the Brownwood Chamber of Commerce’s Military Affairs Committee. Captain Locker’s father, Harry Loy Locker was a WWI Veteran.
Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization created solely to honor America’s veterans for all their sacrifices. The Honor Flight transports the nation’s heroes to Washington, D.C. to visit and reflect at their specific memorials. Top priority is given to the senior veterans – World War II survivors, along with those other veterans who may be terminally ill.
Of all of the wars in recent memory, it was World War II that truly threatened our very existence as a nation—and as a culturally diverse, free society. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, an estimated 640 WWII veterans die each day. The nation’s time to express our thanks to these brave men and women is running out according to organizers.
The flights and tours that Honor Flight Network provides World War II and terminally ill veterans are absolutely free. Veterans are flown on a “first-come, first-served basis.” Within the applicants, top priority is currently given to World War II veterans and all other veterans with terminal illness. The Honor Flight’s second priority is to Korean War veterans and then Vietnam War veterans.
Funding for the Honor Flights comes primarily from individuals across the country who recognize the great accomplishments and sacrifices of veterans and want them to see their memorial before it’s too late. Other significant contributors have been fraternal organizations like local American Legion, VFW, Am Vets, DAV, MOPH, posts and chapters, as well as various corporations on a local level.
For more information or to make a donation to the Honor Flight Network,
Locker along with other WWII Veterans are honored as they visit their memorial.
Lt. Locker with the Washington Memorial in the distance.
