GREEN BAY (NBC 26) — Over the last year, the pandemic has canceled dozens of honor flights for veterans across the nation, including in Northeast Wisconsin.
However, as vaccine roll outs continue and the future looks brighter, one area non-profit is continuing the efforts to help raise money to send veterans on an honor flight.
Old Glory Honor Flight hosted its third and final fundraiser of the month Saturday to help send three veterans on a trip to Washington D.C. to visit the memorials dedicated to those who have served.
“Well for so many it’s a race against time. I mean our veterans, like the rest of us, aren’t getting any younger. However, our Korean War veterans are in their mid 80’s, early 90’s, so we really need to push hard and we need to do it quickly in order to honor them,” said Diane MacDonald, Old Glory Honor Flight executive director.
The organization partnered up with Ahnapee Brewery where every beer flight someone purchased, a portion of those proceeds would go towards the cause.
For Mike Sheedy of Suamico, he was in the Navy and served in the Vietnam War in the 1970s.
While Sheedy has had the opportunity to be part of two Honor Flights: one to Washington D.C. and another to Vietnam, not every veteran has had he same opportunity.
The pandemic making things more difficult, as dozens of Honor Flights have been canceled nationwide and as of now-all flights are grounded until at least mid-August.
"We had plans to bring folks back to Korea, this past year in 2020 and we were grounded obviously so we weren't able to do that so we did loose some of our Korean War Veterans and that generation is leaving us at an alarming pace,” said Kati Cunningham, Old Glory Honor Flight Treasurer.
Organizers say in just the last year at least a few veterans have passed away before they've even had the chance to fly.
Sheedy reflects on his own experience and said when he first returned from war, not many people seemed to care.
"They thought you're home now just move on with your life and it is not all easy to do," Sheedy said.
Which is why he said even years later, it's so important to continue honoring all those who've served.
"For most of the guys this was the first welcome home they ever got and it had been 50 years since they had been over there," Sheedy said.
At the end of the day both organizers and Sheedy say this trip for many provides emotional healing and just a small token of appreciation for their service.
If you missed the event and would like to help raise money for the flights, you can click hereto donate.
