Photos by Shaun Haugh
A luncheon hosted by SpaceCoast Living and the Eau Gallie Arts District and sponsored by Victoria Landing celebrated inspiring women and one very special female World War II veteran who received an all-expense paid trip to Washington D.C. with Space Coast Honor Flight. Hosted at the Rossetter House in the Eau Gallie Arts District, the luncheon celebrated women who have been an inspiration — mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts and friends at a garden party style lunch. Nave Event Design created the beautiful centerpieces with bright spring and citrus colors.
EGAD Executive Director Lisa Packard said, “The result, on a spectacular day, was a tent full of ladies who left with more friends than they originally had.”
The lunch’s honored guest, Joy Huncharek, is 91 years young and served as a Navy WAVE from 1945-1947. She was a corpsman at Portsmouth Naval Hospital New Hampshire (across from Kittery, Maine.) She will travel to Washington D.C. next month.
It is estimated that 350,000 women served in WWII. The Women’s Army Corps (WACS) had full military status and those women worked in non-combatant jobs stateside and in every theater of the war. In the Navy, members of the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) held the same status as naval reservists and served stateside.
Space Coast Honor Flight provides all-expense paid trips for World War II veterans to visit their memorial in Washington D.C. In 2016, the organization will take seven trips to Washington, D.C., providing an opportunity for WWII veterans and their guardian escorts to visit the WWII Memorial, Korean Memorial, Vietnam Wall, the Changing of the Guard at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery and other memorials.
On each trip, 25 WWII Veterans, 25 guardian escorts and several staff members make a one-day round trip that takes veterans to visit the memorials in Washington, D.C. Each veteran has a guardian escort to help make the trip more memorable and to ensure their needs are met. There are over 100 hubs in the United States that transport veterans regularly.
The Eau Gallie Arts District (EGAD) became part of the Florida Main Street program in 2010 to focus on historical preservation, economic development, and revitalization of the old Eau Gallie downtown part of Melbourne. EGAD is anchored by the Foosaner Art Museum, the Brevard Symphony Orchestra, Historic Rossetter House, Eau Gallie public library, Eau Gallie Civic Center, two public parks, a band shell and fishing pier. The district also contains art galleries, shops and restaurants, ballet dance studio, antiques, florist, and so much more. It is the only walkable urban center within Brevard County and sits on the Indian River Lagoon. EGAD’s mix of historic architecture both downtown and in the surrounding neighborhood combined with a canopy of live oaks evokes the grace of old Florida. Visit EauGallieArts.com for events and more information.
Space Coast Honor Flight depends 100 percent on donations and volunteers from generous people and organizations. Trips cost the organization about $400-$450 for each person. To sponsor a trip or for more information visit SpaceCoastHonorFlight.org
