Second Flight Scheduled for Sept. 23-24
Tina Vauthier, left, and Bill Kennedy, far right, two of the leaders of the Big Sky Honor Flight organizing committee, lead a round of applause for World War II veterans Al Litle and Del Olsen (seated) for their service. Litle and Olsen were among the veterans to be a part of the first Big Sky Honor Flight that took place in June. Big Sky Honor Flight organizers announced Thursday that the next flight will take place Sept. 23-24. With Vauthier and Kennedy is Chris Reinhard, the Big Sky Honor Flight’s committee secretary.
The dreams of another 90 Montana World War II veterans to visit their memorial in Washington, D.C. will take flight in September.
Organizers for Big Sky Honor Flight announced today (Thursday, July 19, 2012) that the second group of Montana World War II veterans will make their trip to the nation’s capital on Sept. 23-24, 2012 as a tribute to their service to America. Thanks to continuous support from corporate, family and individual donors, Big Sky Honor Flight is able to make its second flight in less than four months. The first flight was June 15-16.
“Our first trip was such a total success, thanks to the donors and volunteers,” said Big Sky Honor Flight Committee Vice President Bill Kennedy. “Because of them, we will continue to bestow this honor on more of our World War II veterans.”
Big Sky Honor Flight’s mission is to recognize World War II veterans for their sacrifices and achievements by flying them to Washington, D.C., — at no cost to them — to see their memorial. Top priority is given to terminally ill veterans. A total of 97 veterans took first trip and nearly 300 have applied to be a part of the program.
The second flight will leave Logan International Airport on Sunday, Sept. 23 at 7:30 a.m. and return on Monday, Sept. 24 at 9 p.m. On the chartered jet will be about 90 veterans, 38 escorts, four members of a medical team, six media representatives as well as members of the Big Sky Honor Flight committee, who help the veterans on the trip. A pre-flight meeting is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 9 in Billings where more specifics of the flight and the agenda will be discussed with the veterans.
The trip will include stops at important memorials and landmarks in the Washington area, including Arlington National Cemetery. The highlight, however, will be a stop at the National World War II Memorial, which was opened in 2004 as a tribute to the millions of Americans who served and died to protect the freedoms still enjoyed today.
Continued support from corporate sponsors such as BNSF Railway, businesses such as Lithia Dodge and Kadrmas, Lee and Jackson and ongoing personal donations and family fundraisers all make the flight possible, Kennedy said. About $152,000 is needed to get each flight off the ground.
Since the Big Sky Honor Flight committee began its work last fall, personal donations and commitments have been remarkable. One donation that helped push fundraising over the top for this second flight came from Monty Erickson, of Sidney.
Erickson, who operates a land survey company with his son in northeastern Montana, has donated $10,000 to the endeavor.
“I respect veterans and military people and just wanted to do this,” Erickson said. “Some veterans gave the ultimate sacrifice, of course, but I think veterans gave more than they should have for us.”
Erickson said he will challenge others in the “oil patch” to help with the Big Sky Honor Flight cause and has a goal of raising $50,000 for the next flights.
The overall fundraising continues as the group aims to get another two or three flights scheduled from Montana over the next two years.
“It is a big goal, but it’s the least we can do for this group of Montanans who were so brave when this country need it the most,” said Tina Vauthier, the committee’s co-president. “There are a few thousand World War II veterans left in Montana and we are truly in a race against time to get these flights finished.”
Big Sky Honor Flight is a non-profit organization and is part of a national network that aims to recognize the courage and sacrifice of the “Greatest Generation.” Honor Flight was conceived by Earl Morse, a physician assistant and retired Air Force captain from Ohio as a tribute to the veterans to whom he provided care. In May 2005, Morse arranged for six small planes to transport 12 World War II veterans to Washington D.C., to see their memorial.
By the end of the first year Honor Flight had transported 137 World War II veterans to see their memorial. By the end of 2011 the national Honor Flight Network had flown about 83,000 veterans to see their memorial.
The National World War II Memorial pays tribute to the 16 million Americans who served during the war. Through the Honor Flight Network, veterans are flown to see their monument on a “first-come, first-serve basis” with preference given to terminally ill veterans.
To find out more about Big Sky Honor Flight, how to donate and how veterans can apply, go to http://www.bigskyhonorflight.org, send an email to [email protected] or call 406-690-4613. All donations are tax-deductible.
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