I'm asking you to help heal broken families and damaged relationships. I'm asking you to help bring peace to minds that have and continue to be plagued by unimaginable memories and unseen demons. I'm asking you to offer a vet another way of dealing with their survivors guilt, rather than committing suicide and being a part of the 22 veterans per day that do end their own life. I'm asking you to help give WWII, Korean, Vietnam and our current conflict vets the courage and opportunity to share their stories with our youth in an effort to help them understand the cost of our freedom and that war and killing another human being isn't like the video games they play. I'm asking you to help me provide these opportunities to veterans via a day with their fellow vets who are able to help each other approach their memorial to say goodbye to their fallen comrades. Who hold each other when the tears begin to fall and listen with an ear that too has heard chopper blades overhead, held their dying friend in their arms on some unknown field or a fox hole, or was held captive in a POW camp as they were.

The men and women I am referring to are grandparents, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, and friends. They are your neighbor, our community, and I'm confident there are veterans in your circle of family and friends.

  

This journey, for many of our vets, is life changing. One example, a WWII veteran who saw his 2 friends die in the war. Over 70 years later, on the plane home he cried uncontrollably saying, "today I let them go." Another Vietnam vet and his estranged son...one day...one flight...less than 24 hours...started to break down a wall between a father and son that was built by experiences the vet had over 40 years ago. 40 years of pain inflicted on two innocent individuals! A father, dealing with years of PTSD and survivors guilt, who was unable to ever tell his son he loved him and who had never embraced his son in a hug came off the plane, down the ramp and when he found his son in the large welcome home crowd, for the first time, hugged his adult son with tears streaming down his face. It is possible to break down those walls, start to heal those invisible wounds and honor and thank our veterans...one vet, one plane full, one mission at a time!

 

There are so many ways to help. Purchase a ticket and join in what promises to be a fun and exciting event. Perhaps your employer would be interested in sponsoring a table...partial table sponsorships are also available. Donate and cover the cost of a plane ticket, a seat on the bus, meals, etc. Help spread the word!   You can learn more about Old Glory Honor Flight and our fundraising gala on our website (oldgloryhonorflight.org).  

Here is the link to purchase tickets and/or make donations. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening-to-remember-keep-our-veterans-flying-tickets-30850451531.

If you have any questions, please email our event chair at  [email protected] 

 

Thank you for your consideration,

 

Lorraine & Tony Van Kampen, (920-982-3117) Honor Flight Board Members