Honor Flights deserve strong support
Sending our veterans to Washington, D.C., is a worthy endeavor
Something special happened in Kossuth County this month.
Mary Gorce Ludwig’s family started a fundraiser during “Patriotic Night” at a Bancroft baseball game to support the Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight program. Her family decided to match the donations from that night, up to $1,000, and see what would happen. They hoped a reasonable sum of money would be contributed. What transpired, however, was truly impressive.
“I posted on the Bancroft Bandits Facebook page that we were going to match up to $1,000,” Ludwig told The Messenger last week. “One of the kids on the Bandits team is originally from California. His parents come from a big military background. They said, ‘We’re going to match the Gotcher’ thousand dollars.'”
After that, others sent checks to add to the total. Hundreds of dollars were donated in memory of veterans Allan Wesselmann, Don Rahe and Cletus Dorr.
Thanks to matching donations from Ludwig’s family and several others, what could have been an event that might have generated a few hundred dollars ended up raising a total of $4,200 to send area veterans on a trip to see the memorials in their honor in Washington, D.C.
The Honor Flight program initially honored veterans of World War II. It has been 72 years since that war ended, so few of those who fought in that massive conflict are still alive. Even fewer are well enough to make the journey to the nation’s capital. Consequently, the most recent flights have involved any remaining World War II veterans who are able to participate, as well as those who served in the Korean War and Vietnam veterans.
The 15th Brushy Creek Honor Flight, will take place in September. About 140 veterans will be on this trip, including two from World War II and about 30 from the Korean War. The rest will be individuals who served in Vietnam.
The veterans fly for free on these inspiring journeys thanks to the funds raised by the local Honor Flight Committee.
The Messenger applauds Ludwig, her family and the others whose patriotism was demonstrated by their generosity. Their recognition that it is important to honor those individuals who served in these terrible conflicts desires robust praise.
We hope others will be motivated by their efforts to join in the ongoing effort to keep the Honor Flights in operation.