Training for May 8 Kwik Trip Freedom Honor Flight to be held Sunday, April 25
LA CROSSE, Wis., April 21, 2010– Before each mission of Freedom Honor Flight, organizers provide an opportunity for veterans, volunteer guardians, medical crew and TSA members to meet and prepare for flight day. As the May 8 Kwik Trip Freedom Honor Flight nears, the training is set for Sunday, April 25, at the American Legion Post 52 at Sixth and Market Streets, La Crosse. Guardians meet at noon, veterans at 2pm.
Training event activities include presentations on what passengers should and shouldn’t pack for the flight, a review of the May 8 itinerary, medical and comfort care plans, and activities for family members including the morning send-off and evening welcome home events. There is also ample time for questions and answers.
The training event also provides an opportunity for the volunteer guardians to meet the veterans they have been assigned to accompany on the flight. Commemorative photos are taken of the guardian and veteran groups and flight day shirts are distributed.
Freedom Honor Flight president Chuck Hanson said “This is not only a time to prepare the group for the trip, but our first opportunity to meet them and thank them for their service.”
The May 8 flight is the fourth mission of Freedom Honor Flight, a La Crosse-based organization which flies veterans to Washington DC to visit their memorials. This flight is sponsored by Kwik Trip Stores through a generous donation. Kwik Trip employees have also donated many hours in helping to coordinate the May 8 flight. Officials and volunteers from Kwik Trip will be at the training event and will help with the May 8 Kwik Trip Freedom Honor Flight mission.
Veterans and guardians assigned to both the May 8 and June 20 flights have been notified. After the June 20 flight, officials estimate more than 250 veterans will still be on the waiting list. Donations are needed to ensure further flights can be held. For more information on Freedom Honor Flight or to donate, visit: www.freedomhonorflight.org