Freedom Honor Flight returns to the skies on Saturday, May 7
Organizers are preparing for Freedom Honor Flight’s 26th trip to honor veterans by flying them to Washington D.C., to see the memorials built in their honor. The single-day itinerary includes a welcome in Washington, D.C., and visits typically include the WWII Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery and other sites via luxury motorcoaches.
Eager to fly are the 97 veterans from the Vietnam Era, nine Korean Era veterans and one World War II veteran slated for the trip. The veterans fly for free, accompanied by volunteer guardians who pay their own way to assist the veterans on this “trip of a lifetime.”
As with every Freedom Honor Flight, accompanying the veterans are a physician and four paramedics from Gundersen Health System and a physician from Mayo Clinic Health System, all out of the La Crosse area. Both health systems have been longtime supporters of Freedom Honor Flight, providing the paid services of the medical professionals at no charge to the organization, plus paying for their flights. Many honor flight veterans are elderly and depend on this medical care to have a safe and comfortable experience.
The public is welcome at the morning sendoff and the evening welcome home ceremonies. Ample parking is available with shuttle service, provided for this flight by UPS employee volunteers. All ground activities are held at Colgan Air, Hangar 4, La Crosse Airport.
In the morning, hangar doors open at 5 a.m. A brief ceremony precedes the American Airlines charter flight, set to depart at 6:55 a.m. The popular welcome home ceremony features fireworks by the La Crosse Skyrockers and the Westby High School Marching Band, a special treat considering this flight has some veterans from Westby. Hangar doors open at 7 p.m. The flight is expected to return between 9 and 10 p.m.
Freedom Honor Flight is the first Wisconsin affiliate of the national network of Honor Flight organizations. The hub, based in La Crosse, serves 30 counties in western Wisconsin, southeast Minnesota and northern Iowa. The group’s mission is to organize and fly groups of veterans to Washington D.C. to visit the war memorials that stand in their honor. The group receives no government funding and depends on donations, which are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.
Freedom Honor Flight returns with two fall flights
Flight 25 scheduled for September 11
In 2020, Freedom Honor Flight made the difficult decision to suspend flights until it was again possible to fly veterans safely. In July of this year, hubs across the nation received the green light from National Honor Flight (NHF) to resume flights. Freedom Honor Flight was ready and quickly organized two fall flights.
Flight 25—September 11, 2021
Flight 26—October 9, 2021
The organization is thrilled to return to its mission of honoring veterans by flying them to see the memorials built in their honor. Veterans fly for free, accompanied by guardians who pay their own way. The single-day itinerary includes a welcome in Washington, D.C., and visits typically include the WWII Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery and other sites via luxury motorcoaches.
Families and friends can send off and welcome home the veterans at Colgan Air Hangar 4. Send off is 6–7 am. The flight is expected to return between 9 and 10:30 pm. A tent will be provided.
Winona Elks Spring Show set for May 23
Winona Elks Lodge #327 is hosting another Car, Truck, Motorcycle, or Anything Show! Join us again this spring for a great car show and pork chop dinner.
- 11 am to 2 pm
- Sunday, May 23, 2021
- Elks Lodge 4540 Service Drive, Goodview, Minnesota
Serving pork chop dinner for $10 from 11 am until gone.
Donations to Freedom Honor Flight are welcome. Questions? Please call 507-452-4716.
For car show information, contact Arnie Jackson at 507-454-3769.
Winona Elks Fall Show set for Oct 4
Winona Elks Lodge #327 is hosting their annual Freedom Honor Flight Car, Truck, Motorcycle, or Anything Show! Join us again this year for a great car show, pumpkin drop and spaghetti dinner.
- 11 am to 2 pm
- Sunday, October 4, 2020
- Elks Lodge 4540 Service Drive, Goodview, Minnesota
Serving spaghetti dinner for $8 from 11 am until 3 pm
Donations to Freedom Honor Flight are welcome. Questions? Please call 507-452-4716.
For car show information, contact Arnie Jackson at 507-454-3769.
Veterans Day Breakfast cancelled for 2020
Freedom Honor Flight and UW–La Crosse Athletics to resume event in 2021
The annual Veterans Day Breakfast held by Freedom Honor Flight and UW–La Crosse Athletics has been cancelled due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. This was to have been the 10th year for the event.
“We are disappointed that the breakfast can’t proceed as usual,” said Ryan Clark, president of Freedom Honor Flight. “But due to the current situation, our priority has to be the health and safety of the veterans we serve. Together with UW-La Crosse Athletics staff and students, we look forward to resuming this event on Veterans Day in 2021.” The breakfast was to have been held Wednesday, Nov. 11.
The honor flights scheduled for May and September of this year have been postponed. Veterans who were scheduled to take those flights will be rescheduled when flights can be safely resumed.
