Source: Current in Carmel

“Hummingbird” was former U.S. second lady Karen Pence’s Secret Service code name when her husband, Mike Pence, served as vice president. Mike’s Secret Service code name was “Hoosier,” and the protocol is for the code names of all family members to begin with the same letter.

Now back home in Indiana, the Carmel resident has taken her affinity for the versatile flyers and attached it to a new philanthropic mission – the Hummingbird Charitable Foundation.

The prototype for the group, whose board of directors has expanded to include four of Karen’s friends, was her work as Indiana’s first lady when she launched the Indiana First Ladies Charitable Foundation. In three years, that group raised $600,000 that was distributed to all 92 Indiana counties.

One of the beneficiaries of the Hummingbird Charitable Foundation’s initial fundraising event is Indy Honor Flight, a nonprofit with strong Carmel connections. Indy Honor Flight transports World War II, Korean and Vietnam war veterans to see the memorials built in their honor in Washington, D.C., at no cost to them. To date, they’ve flown more than 3,700 veterans, with a waiting list of about 800.

There are several Carmel residents who serve as volunteers at Indy Honor Flight, and the venue for the group’s monthly veterans’ breakfasts is The Barrington of Carmel. And of course, many Carmel veterans have taken the trip to the nation’s capital.

One of those heroes is Dan Harlan, 84. He is a Navy veteran who served as a damage control officer and engineering officer on the U.S.S. Cogswell in the South China Sea, the Philippines and Vietnam between 1963-1966 during the Vietnam War.

His day trip to D.C. began with an early pick-up by an assigned escort at 3 a.m. By 4 a.m., he and three friends also making the journey were having breakfast at Plainfield High School. The group was bussed to the Indianapolis airport and flew charter to Washington’s Reagan National Airport.

From there, they made the rounds of the war memorials and concluded the day with a visit to Arlington National Cemetery.

“I was very impressed with the memorials,” Harlan said. Of the cemetery he said, “You can’t believe how big it is and how impressive it is.”

On the flight back home to Central Indiana, the veterans participated in the military “mail call” tradition and received cards of support and gratitude from friends, family and children who volunteered to express their appreciation.

The long and emotional day was nearly over as the group made its way back to Plainfield High School. Or so they thought. Awaiting them in the school’s gymnasium were thousands of cheering supporters for one final in-person salute.

“It was almost overwhelming when you walk into that gymnasium,” Harlan said.

Karen Pence is personally familiar with the work of Indy Honor Flight. She said by coincidence in April 2019 while she was second lady, an honor flight was coming into Reagan National just as she was leaving.

“I stopped and greeted every participant there,” she said. “It was so much fun. It’s such a wonderful thing.”

The foundation is holding its first fundraising luncheon on March 27, 2025, at the Indiana Roof Ballroom with proceeds also going to INvets and Indy Warrior Partnership.