Brandon Nance, a Stephen F. Austin State University junior forestry major within the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, recently participated in Honor Flight San Diego, escorting military veterans to Washington, D.C., to tour memorials honoring their service.
Honor Flight San Diego is a nonprofit branch of the nationwide Honor Flight Network, which provides veterans who served during World War II through the Vietnam War with an all-expenses-paid trip to tour the nation’s war memorials.
The most recent veteran cohort comprised members of the Helicopter Attack Squadron Light 3, known as the HAL-3 Seawolves. This all-volunteer squadron within the U.S. Navy supported critical special warfare operations during the Vietnam War.
Nance’s family maintains a rich military history across multiple branches of service. Although an asthma diagnosis prevented Nance from formal military enrollment, he continues to serve and support veterans through advocacy and volunteerism, including building relationships within SFA’s Veterans Resource Center.
“I try to do everything I can do to help veterans,” Nance said. “They deserve everything, but there are a lot of things they don’t get when they return.”
Nance said that in addition to combat-related injuries, many veterans struggle with mental health and housing insecurity, among other concerns.
“You never know what someone is going through,” Nance said. “Sometimes it’s important to reach out and just listen to them.”
This is the second time Nance has participated in an Honor Flight. While in high school, Nance won an essay contest that provided him with the opportunity to accompany veterans visiting the National WWII Museum in New Orleans.
“It is an honor and a privilege to meet these gentlemen and hear their stories,” Nance said.
For more information on resources available to veterans and dependents of veterans attending SFA, visit the SFA Veterans Resource Center at sfasu.edu/vrc.
