Seats Still Available For World War II "Honor Flight"

WDIO Radio: Seats Still Available For World War II "Honor Flight"
This spring, an Honor Flight will take 100 Northland World War II veterans to see their national memorial in Washington, D.C. There is still room on the flight, and organizers still need donations.

"It's a beautiful, beautiful thing to see," said Navy veteran John Kanzler of Superior, who travelled to Washington to see the National World War II Memorial the year after it opened. "They built it for people like me, and I just wanted to see it before I died."

"A lot of memories came back," Kanzler said. "You remembered people, you remembered where you were and different things."

Kanzler thinks its something every World War II vet should see. "I would say if you can go, go by all means because it's something worth seeing, it's something that you fought for, and something that we deserve," he said.

That's the point of Honor Flight Northland. On May 14, 100 Northland veterans will get a free, one-day trip to Washington to see their memorial.

"A lot of these guys, actually a vast majority of them, have never seen their own memorial," said Dan Hartman, secretary of Honor Flight Northland. He said time is running out for these veterans.

"There are several thousand, but honestly, not many of them can physically do it right now. I wish this happened a decade ago, because a lot of guys would have loved to have been there, but they can't go now."

65 veterans have already signed up. There's room for another 35. The flight is open to World War II veterans from northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin who are physically able to make the trip. Veterans can pick up an application at The Depot in Duluth, or print it from www.HonorFlightNorthland.org.

Organizers need help paying for the trip. "Please help us make this last mission possible for our World War II heroes. Let's show them that we have not forgotten them," said Judy Greske, chair of Honor Flight Northland.

Donations can be made online at www.HonorFlightNorthland.org, or mailed to Honor Flight Northland, Attn: Don Monaco, 4535 Airport Approach Road, Duluth, MN 55811.