This “Honor Air” one-day voyage has become a tradition since 2006 when Rotarian Jeff Miller, a local businessman in Hendersonville, began a campaign to try and send every World War II veteran in WNC to see the WWII National Memorial.
Nearly 100 veterans plus 50 ‘guardians’, and medical personnel departed from the Asheville Regional Airport at 7:30 a.m. After a very full day touring Washington, DC, they visited Arlington National Ceremony for the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, with a special wreath honoring the veterans of WNC. The group returned safely at 8:00 p.m. to a hero’s welcome complete with American flags waving, a band playing patriotic music and the crowd cheering! A big group of HomeTrust Bank teammates, joined by their family members, joined in the welcome festivities.
HomeTrust Banking Partnership Chairman/CEO, Ed Broadwell had the great honor of traveling to DC as one of the Rotary Club guardians for this voyage. Mr. Broadwell escorted three veterans; Jules Risnick, Richard Starr and Deacon Myers.
“It was truly a very special day,” commented Ed Broadwell. “Our group filled up three busses; the red bus, the white bus and the blue bus. All around DC, we received a big police escort to help us quickly navigate the many stops on our tour of national landmarks. I was honored to accompany our special heroes and humbled by their gratitude for the experience – it will be a day that I will treasure always. The special hero’s welcome for our veterans at the Asheville airport absolutely exceeded my greatest expectations. Veterans and guardians thanked HomeTrust Bank all day for our caring sponsorship. I am thankful for the opportunity to represent you and the HomeTrust Banking Partnership.”
About HomeTrust Bank
HomeTrust Bank is a mutually owned bank with an 84-year history of serving families and businesses in Western North Carolina. HomeTrust Bank offers a variety of home loans, consumer loans, checking accounts, Online Banking, and a broad range of investment options to help families build a secure financial future. The Bank also offers a full array of financial products designed especially for businesses.
HomeTrust Bank, Tryon Federal Bank, Shelby Savings Bank, Home Savings Bank, Rutherford County Bank and Industrial Federal Bank comprise the HomeTrust Banking Partnership. By combining their resources in Partnership, member institutions have expanded their ability to preserve hometown banking traditions with improved products and services, more convenient locations, and greater support for their local communities.
Together, the HomeTrust Banking Partnership has assets of over $1.6 billion and is the largest mutual bank headquartered in North Carolina and the 2nd largest in the Southeast.
HomeTrust Bank has offices in Buncombe, Henderson, and Haywood Counties. Tryon Federal Bank, Shelby Savings Bank, Home Savings Bank, Rutherford County Bank and Industrial Federal Bank have offices in Polk, Cleveland, Rockingham, Rutherford County and Davidson County, respectively.
