Other Articles in this Category
Most Viewed Stories
Most Commented Stories
Most Recommended Stories
Save & Share this Article
Honor Flight off to good start
Comments 0 | Recommend 0Group takes vets to visit Washington war memorials
A Sedalia group is making strides in its effort to send World War II veterans to visit a memorial in their honor in Washington, D.C.
Show Me Honor Flight has raised $16,000 through about a half dozen fundraisers and events since the group formed in mid-April. So far, 70 World War II veterans are scheduled to take the free trip, which is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 28 and 29. The group is still taking applications.
“It’s going to be an extraordinary experience. ... Here in the twilight of their life, they have this thing to look forward to,” said Pam Burlingame, treasurer of the organization.
The trip is estimated to cost about $500 per veteran, or $35,000 for the 70 already signed up. Guardians will also make the trip. One guardian for every three veterans and one guardian for every veteran who is in a wheelchair.
Burlingame said the group may pay for the plane tickets for guardians if enough money is raised.
Tony Gallagher, vice president of the organization, said he’s confident the money will be raised.
“We still have a ways to go, but we’re going to do it,” he said.
Many in the community have supported the effort, Burlingame said.
“It’s just incredible what people want to do when we approach them,” she said.
The Show-Me Honor Flight group here is a hub for the national Honor Flight organization, a non-profit dedicated to sending veterans to visit war memorials in Washington, D.C. The Sedalia group’s goal is to first take all interested World War II veterans, then continue with Korean and Vietnam veterans, as long as money is available, Burlingame said.
The idea first arose after Burlingame read an article about Honor Flight. She showed the article to KDRO disc jockey Charlie Thomas, who researched the organization and asked Burlingame if she wanted to help with an effort here.
Burlingame’s and Thomas’ fathers, both of whom have died, were World War II veterans. They plan to wear T-shirts sporting their fathers’ names when they visit the memorial.
“So we’re going to take them with us,” Burlingame said.
Gallagher, who is also the commander of the 40 & 8, said the trip is a way to honor the World War II veterans for their service to this country.
“If it wasn’t for them, you’d be speaking German or Japanese. ... They deserve to see (the memorial) before they all pass on,” he said.
snail@sedaliademocrat.com
