Author’s Note: This article is published in memory of Sister Judy Humphrey, a 48-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, whose passion and service inspired Naomi Chapter to participate in Partnering To Honor.
Sister Judy Humphrey, Secretary of Naomi Chapter #296 of the Order of the Eastern Star (O.E.S.), has volunteered her time and talent for Greater St. Louis Honor Flight (GSLHF) over 10 years. This year, that support took a new form when Naomi Chapter participated in the Masonic Home of Missouri’s Partnering To Honor Program (PTH) for the first time.
Veterans salute for a group photo during the 114th Mission of the Greater St. Louis Honor Flight on April 1, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Greater St. Louis Honor Flight)
A Member’s Volunteerism and Her Chapter’s Support
When Sister Judy started volunteering with GSLHF, she held roles such as distributing T-shirts and building the packets each veteran receives for their flight, but she knew there was more she could do to make their experience special.
She talked to her quilting guild, and they decided to provide lap quilts for each veteran too. The last flight was sixty veterans, and the guild handmade a quilt for each of them.
“It just brings me great joy, because I am able to come in contact with the veterans before they go on their trip at the meet and greet,” Judy said. “I’m able to hand them a quilt. I actually can speak to them, shake their hand, and give them a hug. It just fills your heart with happiness. It’s just terrific.”
As Judy’s home Chapter, Naomi Chapter had previously supported the Honor Flight by writing notes for the veterans, which were read during the trip. However, this year, an opportunity arose for the Chapter to do more.
“We’ve tried to do little things in the past, but this year, when we had a little bit bigger money than we expected to be able to donate, it was important that we could use that money,” said Sister Karen Dixon, Worthy Matron of Naomi Chapter.
Sister Karen said that the timing aligned with larger Grand Chapter efforts as well. This year, Worthy Grand Patron Craig Stratmann has named Honor Flights of Missouri as his chosen charity to support.
“As a Worthy Matron, I have certain objectives to do every year, and one of them is supporting the Worthy Grand Matron and Worthy Grand Patron’s charities,” Karen said. “It was important for our Chapter to support both the Worthy Grand Patron and to support Judy.”
Naomi Chapter #296 OES presents $6,000 check to Greater St. Louis Honor Flight through CAP. Pictured left to right: Warren Dixon, Karen Dixon, Rolando Lopez, Judy Humphrey, Russell Humphrey
Naomi Chapter’s History of Partnership
Naomi Chapter has had a history of supporting their community long before participating in Partnering To Honor. For eight straight years, the Chapter has supported the Wildcat Food Pack Program through the Masonic Home’s Creating-A-Partnership (CAP) Program, ensuring the students of Union R-XI have access to the nutrition they need to learn and grow.
“We’ve used it [CAP] for lunch programs, and I’ve had the school food directors almost crying when we gave them a check,” Sister Karen said. “They’re just so appreciative of being able to pay for those kids’ lunches or backpack programs for them.”
This year, Naomi Chapter had some additional Chapter funds that they decided to donate to local causes.
“We have some money that we had invested, and we wanted to be able to make a difference,” Karen said. “We didn’t need to use it to maintain our Chapter rent and that kind of stuff, so we wanted to give it away to charity.”
The Chapter decided to combine the investment funds with the proceeds from a Bakeless Bake Sale fundraiser they held this year in order to support four charities at $2,000 each. By participating in CAP and PTH, the Chapter was able to take advantage of the Masonic Home’s 2:1 match for the Wildcat Food Pack Program and the Honor Flight.
“We did the $2,000 donation, but we were able to give a $6,000 impact,” Karen said. “It makes giving money away to good causes so much easier.”
Honoring Veterans
Veterans who participate in Honor Flights do so at no cost to them. This year, GSLHF will hold four Honor Flights for sixty veterans each. For each flight, the organization charters a plane to fly the veterans and their guardians to and from Washington D.C., arranges charter buses to transport the group, and covers three meals throughout the daylong trip. Veterans visit meaningful locations such as the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
“We have story after story of the veterans, some of them who have never been to the wall [the Vietnam Memorial], some of them who have never been to Washington and seen the memorials at all,” said Jim Pettit, Vietnam veteran and head of community outreach for Greater St. Louis Honor Flight. “It’s a really, really emotional day for all of the veterans.
Honor Flight veteran pays his respects at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. (Photo courtesy of Greater St. Louis Honor Flight)
Currently, GSLHF has a long list of veterans who have applied and are waiting to take an Honor Flight. In response, the organization plans to charter larger planes and take an additional flight next year, but that will also increase the costs the organization will incur.
“We’re 100% dependent on donations to be able to do this. We have a lot of veterans that are waiting to go. It’s very meaningful to the veterans. It’s expensive to do what we do, and we’re very grateful when people think that what we do is important enough to donate,” Jim said.
Partnering To Honor
Between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026, sixteen Lodges and Chapters participated in the Partnering To Honor Program. Ten of those Lodges and Chapters, including Naomi Chapter, did so for the very first time.
“I’m impressed on how easy it was,” Sister Karen said, adding that she would encourage all Lodges and Chapters to take part in the program.
Sister Judy also suggested that members start by attending a meet and greet for an Honor Flight near them to see the difference the flights make to veterans.
“Come to a meet and greet and see what all goes on in preparing for a flight,” Judy said. “All the veterans and their families come. That would really get them excited about the program.”
If your Lodge or Chapter is interested in serving local veterans through the Partnering To Honor Program, visit https://www.mohome.org/outreach-programs/partnership-programs/partnering-to-honor/ or contact the Masonic Home today at (800) 434-9804.
