APPLETON, Wis. (NBC 26) -- For many veterans, going to Washington, D.C. with Old Glory Honor Flight is the trip of a lifetime. Three flights have been canceled due to COVID-19.
The trip set April, the Return to Korea trip in May, and mission during EAA AirVenture have all been canceled. Diane MacDonald, the executive director of Old Glory Honor Flight, said they're still hopeful about the trips in September and October, but it will depend on where things are in both Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.
NBC 26 talked with Dave Lozinski, a Vietnam veteran who was supposed to go on the April trip. He said he was excited to go but understands everyone's health must come first. He said he's seen the Vietnam Veterans Memorial before but was looking forward to experiencing it with fellow veterans. He said he was also excited to see the other places Old Glory Honor Flight takes them on the trip.
"I'm more hopeful for the other guys that have never seen it, the wall in Washington. It's quite a breakthrough moment, so I'm excited for them to see it for the first time and be there to give them and welcome home and put my arms around them and let them cry," said Lozinski.
In the meantime, though, Old Glory Honor Flight is doing what it can to show support for our veterans. MacDonald said they did a PPE drive to collect supplies for Wisconsin's Veterans Home at King. She said to date, more than 1,100 PPE masks have been donated. They also did the 'Window Warriors' project. A photographer captured photos of veterans inside their houses, while social distancing. They posted those photos and MacDonald said they've gotten a lot of great feedback. They also set up a virtual classroom for students to talk with Vietnam veterans to understand more about the war, their experiences, and some of the healing that's happened through the honor flight.
"It's really about honoring the veterans. Maybe not with an honor flight, but with something else that's meaningful," said MacDonald.
MacDonald added that this is usually a busy time for fundraisers, but with the pandemic, it's been difficult. She said each mission costs nearly $85,000, so they're hoping people will continue to remember Old Glory Honor Flight and all the veterans during this time.
If you're interested in donating to Old Glory Honor Flight, click here.
Old Glory Honor Flight also has started an online store to sell merchandise like t-shirts, hats, pins, and more. To visit the store, click here.
