Residence welcomes homeless female vets
Operation Stand Down Rhode Island reopened a historic Woonsocket property on Nov. 27 as a transitional home for homeless female veterans. The house was named in honor of the late Marine Cpl. Andrea Ryder.
The house will provide shelter to 10 female veterans, to be identified by the state Office of Veterans Services. Kasim Yarn, director of that office, attended the ceremony along with Providence VA Medical Center Director Larry Connell and other dignitaries.
Ryder was born in Providence and grew up in Warwick. She graduated from Warwick Veterans Memorial High School and attended the Community College of Rhode Island before enlisting
in the Marine Corps. Corporal Ryder deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan during her service.
After her discharge, she was diagnosed with skin cancer connected to her overseas deployments. In 2014, Andrea learned she was pregnant. Realizing that treating her cancer would endanger the life of her unborn child, she suspended treatment and gave birth to baby Olivia. By then her melanoma had advanced to stage 4. Ryder succumbed to her cancer in 2020 at the age of 34.
“Andrea Ryder not only served her country selflessly but continued to put others before herself when she made the decision to risk her own health in order to give life to her unborn child,” said Erik Wallin, executive director of Operation Stand Down Rhode Island.
“We are honored to name this property after her and let her legacy continue to live on through [our] work with female veterans.”
Andrea’s husband, Dennis Bourassa, and their daughter, Olivia, attended the dedication.
Operation Stand Down also presented Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse with an award thanking him for his part in securing the funding for the renovations and repairs to other housing of the nonprofit.
Honor Flight video
Since 2012, a dedicated group of Rhode Island fire chiefs and volunteers have flown hundreds of veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit the monuments and memorials created in honor of their service, and in honor of the sacrifice made by those who did not return.
Led by former Providence Chief George Farrell, the operation ensures that veterans enjoy the day at no cost to them.
There is a YouTube link to an excellent video that captures the sights and sounds of Honor Flight “Freedom” (June 19, 2023).
It was produced by Joe Guarnieri and narrated by Joe’s dad, Vietnam combat infantryman Bert Guarnieri, who participated in the trip.
It starts with a brief introduction of the Honor Flight program by Chief Farrell, then moves to the heartwarming and emotional sendoff the veterans received at 5 a.m. at Rhode Island International T.F. Green Airport. Bagpipers and a combined Fire Department honor guard send the veterans and their chaperones off to their flight.
The video is well worth the half hour of your life it will take to watch it.
The Honor Flight concept began in Ohio in 2005. Chief Farrell launched the Rhode Island operation in August of 2012, and for the past 11-plus years he has been doing his best to make sure as many veterans as possible get to visit the memorials.
June’s flight was the 27th such Rhode Island group.
Vietnam vets sought for future flights
The organizers were aware from the beginning that the march of time would necessitate a change in the target audience.
“As our pool of World War II and Korea vets dwindles, we are now looking to serve the Vietnam community,” said Farrell.
For a number of reasons, mostly related to the way they were treated when they came home, Vietnam veterans are harder to reach than their WWII or Korean counterparts.
Most did not join the traditional veteran service organizations such as the American Legion or the VFW.
Farrell is concerned there may be a perception among the Vietnam vets community that you have to be invited to go on an Honor Flight or be nominated for inclusion.
“Nothing could be further from the truth,” Farrell insists.
“Anyone who served in the U.S. military is eligible to go; all they have to do is download a form from our website and send it in.”
“Going on an honor flight might help give Vietnam vets a little of that recognition they deserve and a proper welcome home.”
To reiterate, anyone who has served in the U.S. military (including the Reserves and National Guard) is eligible for an Honor Flight trip.
Combat service or foreign deployment is not required.
The website address is www.rihonorflight.com
“And if you don’t have a computer, or are not tech savvy, just give our office a call at (401) 354-7909 and we will walk you through it,” said Farrell.
CALENDAR
Thursday, Dec. 7, 1 p.m. - North Kingstown Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Ceremony, municipal parking lot adjacent to Wickford Harbor. Chairman Bill Pennoyer says “You can’t miss the spot of the ceremony. Just look for the flags of the states that gave their names to the nine battleships present at Pearl Harbor on that day.” For details, reach out to Pennoyer at (401) 398-2358.