Last November the Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight announced two veteran’s flights scheduled for 2016. Previous flights took World War II and Korean Veterans to Washington DC, and the two upcoming flights will be the first time the organization has opened up the application process to Vietnam Veterans and the response, Chairman Ron Newsum says, was immediate.
The flights scheduled in May and September can each carry 162 passengers and some veterans from Carroll County will be joining those flights.
After landing in Washington DC Newsum says veterans can expect to visit memorials and monuments dedicated to their war service era, however, one thing many of them have never experienced, Newsum adds, is a proper “welcome home” which the organization strives to rectify at each airport.
For the most part it’s the trip of a lifetime for most veterans, he says, and it wouldn’t be possible without sponsorship donations from each Veteran’s home county.
With over a total of 350 applicants so far both flights for 2016 are already full, however, Newsum encourages all eligible veterans to fill out an application at their local Veteran’s Affairs Office which will be kept on file for all future flights. The Brushy Creek Honor flight is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and has been in operation since 2009. The flights scheduled in May and September will be the organization’s 12th and 13th flights respectively. For more information in Carroll County contact the Veteran’s Affair Office at 792-1234. Donations can be sent directly to the Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight at 320 South 12th Street, Fort Dodge, IA 50501 or at any Veteran’s Affair Office. Donations will be designated for veterans from the originating county.
