A local woman who made her mark in history for her service in the Women's Army Corps (WAC) recently had the "trip of a lifetime" to Washington, D.C., where she was chosen to lay the wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as part of an Honor Flight excursion. Helen Brooks, formerly of Robbinston and now of Eastport, made the journey alongside her daughter, Tammy Ramsdell, in late June.
      "I couldn't believe it when they told me I was going to do that. I was so thrilled," Brooks says. "I have been there several times and seen it done. But I never dreamt it would be me picked for it."
      It was a singular moment that stood out among the many memorable ones Brooks and Ramsdell experienced during the weekend. From the minute they arrived at the Portland airport on the evening of June 28, they were in the hands of the Honor Flight team -- and it was "very efficient" from that point forward, says Ramsdell. From check in to baggage handling to shuttle arrangements to snacks, every aspect was thought of in advance and taken care of.
      Once in D.C., the group went on a whirlwind tour that included a visit to Fort McHenry, the World War II Memorial, the Marine Memorial, the Air Force Memorial, the Navy Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean War and Vietnam War memorials and the Military Women's Memorial, where Brooks is pictured along with details of her military service. "They kept us busy," Brooks says with a chuckle.
      At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington during the laying of the wreath, "Everything was so quiet," Ramsdell says. "You could hear a pin drop." Each of the four veterans chosen to lay the wreath touched it before it was placed.
      "I was very honored to lay the wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier," Brooks summarizes of the experience.
      Brooks was one of four women on the flight, which included a total of 50 veterans from around the state. Honor Flights started running 10 years ago, with a focus on escorting the oldest veterans to the capital. With few World War II veterans left to make the trip, veterans from the Korean War, the Cold War and the Vietnam War are now being selected.
      For Brooks' part, she served between 1955 1956 in the WAC, attending basic training in Fort McClellan in Anniston, Ala., for 12 weeks. "It was hard work but, at the same time, I loved it all," Brooks shares. "We were called the soldiers in a skirt, and that's what we were. We did our physical activities, we marched in a skirt, we did everything in a skirt."
      The influence the members of WAC and other early women in the military had on today's armed forces cannot be understated, Brooks says. "It's a man's world. The four of us broke that situation by poking our noses in and saying we wanted to be a part of it. And so we broke it in."
      It was a sentiment echoed with gratitude by a young woman veteran who came up to Brooks to thank her when she returned. "She came to appreciate me for helping to establish it for the women of today," Brooks recalls of the emotional moment. "I am history."
      The trip home on Sunday hit a snag when their original flight was cancelled, necessitating some outside of the box thinking on Honor Flight's part. The troop was successfully brought home, however, enjoying some particularly "excellent hot chocolate" on the flight, Brooks shares.
      Another highlight on the return trip was the mail call, in which every veteran received a package of mail from family and friends at home who had prepared them in advance. Brooks's package was stuffed with dozens of cards from her many adoring fans.
      Once back at Portland, there was "an amazing homecoming for these veterans," says Ramsdell. "A lot of them will tell you that they never had a homecoming, so it was really emotional for a lot of them." Veterans of the Vietnam War in particular were not widely welcomed home by their communities when they came back due to the divisive nature of the conflict. Part of the Honor Flight's goal is to rectify that by encouraging volunteers to welcome veterans home from the trip.
      "Oh my gosh, I've never seen so many people in my life. They were waving flags and waiting for us," Brooks says. A parade was organized, going directly through the Portland International Jetport, with a large flag being carried by active military members preceding the veterans, complete with bagpipe accompaniment. "It was indeed an honor."
      Honor Flight is actively taking applications or nominations for veterans who would like to make the trip to D.C., as well as for volunteers who are able to serve as guardians of veterans during the trip. Find out more at www.honorflightmaine.org.