The work of the Show-Me Hero Salute Committee, which brought the American Veterans Traveling Tribute Vietnam Wall to the area in 2013, concluded May 19 with a presentation of contributions to veterans' causes.

Morris "Butch" Thomas made the contributions from the committee at a special meeting of the Sunset Hills Historical Society at City Hall. Among notables in attendance were Sunset Hills Mayor Mark Furrer, his predecessor, Bill Nolan, and Joyce Franklin of the Historical Society.

"We were absolutely surprised to end up with a surplus of $7,500 from the wall effort," said Thomas, who chaired the Show-Me Group. "We did go to a lot of organizations for help, and they all came through. So, we've been meeting to decide what to do with the surplus.

"After three meetings of the Show-Me Hero Salute, we decided to disperse the money to organizations that somehow play a role in helping veterans," Morris explained.

On Monday night, the beneficiaries accepted their checks:

  • Greater St. Louis Honor Flight received $3,000.
  • Fisher House – Helping Military Families – received $2,500.
  • Project Healing Waters – fly fishing experiences – received $500.
  • Camp Hope – for wounded warriors – received $500.

Rich Connors accepted the check for Honor Flight and described how the organization flies veterans to the war memorials in Washington, D.C. for a lifetime experience free of charge.

"Honor Flight started in 2005 when a pilot named Earl Morris flew the first group from Ohio to see the memorials to veterans," said Connors. "We are now at a point that there are 148 hubs for these flights since that first one in Ohio.

"At this point, we have flown more than 10,000 veterans out of St. Louis to Washington, D.C.," Connors said with obvious pride. "We are now at a point that we are running out of World War II veterans to take. If you know a veteran from that era who has not been on an honor flight, please let us know."

Connors said the honor flights will now be taking Korean War veterans and then Vietnam War veterans. He said the experience of being on the honor flights and the tour of many Washington, D.C., sites can be quite emotional.

"Some of the vets who go may have never spoken much about what they went through," said Connors. "But the men start talking with each other, and sharing stories, things they haven't really shared before.

"And their families tell us later: 'Grandpa never talked about these things before.' They are so grateful," said Connors. "And I can't tell you how grateful we are to the Show-Me organization for bringing the wall to Lindbergh High School, and for making this contribution to Greater St. Louis Honor Flight."

James Donohoe of Fisher House accepted the check for $2,500 and described how his organization is best known for a network of comfort homes where military and veterans' families can stay at no cost while a much loved vet is receiving medical treatment.

"There are 62 Fisher Houses in the country today and we have a first-class facility at Jefferson Barracks," said Donohoe. "It has about 20 bedroom suites and it is always 90 to 95 percent occupied. These are families that cannot afford commercial housing while medical treatment is going on.

"Some stay for a night, some stay for months," added Donohoe. "There are few contributions for vets that are as important when it comes to helping veterans and their families in difficult times."

Dan Steffler of Healing Waters told the audience that his group receives no federal funding and depends entirely on generosity. His group is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military and veterans through therapeutic fly fishing experiences.

"I can tell a lot of good fish stories," said Steffler. "We are in Building 60 at JB and it's a wonderful place to learn fly fishing, but it's a terrible place for catching fish. So, we arrange for trips to places where you really can catch some fish and have some recreation.

"We are open to visitors," added Steffler. "Feel free to come out and visit us and see what we do. We are there Monday nights and let me tell you that good casting is not as hard as it looks."

Kim Donica of Camp Hope accepted the check for her organization. Camp Hope provides free outdoor adventures to combat wounded veterans of the war on terror and active-duty combat-wounded.

Camp Hope's mission is to allow wounded warriors the opportunity to participate in outdoor activities with dignity — to not think about what they "can't do," but to enjoy what they can do. Participants can fish, hike, explore the outdoors as well as to hunt deer and turkey.