Old Glory Honor Flight Mission VI took off from Appleton Airport Thursday, Oct. 21. On the flight were 90 World War II Veterans and about 70 guardians.
Tony Van Kampen of New London accompanied two veterans, one from Appleton and one from Lena. Tony’s wife, Lorraine, accompanied one veteran from Little Chute.
Both Tony and Lorraine will tell you that this is such a worthwhile endeavor. The men and women who are able to go see the memorial made in their honor are very emotional and excited.
The day begins at the airport at 5 a.m., with a reception line and coffee, juice and donuts. Then it is off across the sky to Washington, D.C., where there are three buses waiting for the Veterans and their support team. The first stop is at the WWII Memorial, which is the highlight of the day. Several other memorials are on the tour, and finally Arlington National Cemetery for the Changing of the Guard ceremony.
The flight back to Appleton is an event in itself, with everyone sharing their day’s experiences and a special surprise for the Veterans. The flight arrived back at Outagamie Airport around 9:30 p.m. to a lobby full of proud Americans. Lorraine says they’re hooked on the program and says it is a joy to help these Veterans obtain their dream of seeing Washington, D.C., and the WWII memorial.
Visit oldgloryhonorflight.org to see pictures and get more information on the program.