Tomahawk-area veterans to take Honor Flight

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Numerous area veterans, including several from the Tomahawk area, are slated to take next week’s Never Forgotten Honor Flight (NFHF) to Washington, D.C., to see the memorials that honor their service.

The flight, which will take place on Monday, June 1, is organized by the Wausau-based NFHF organization, which serves veterans in Barron, Clark, Iron, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida, Portage, Price, Rusk, Taylor, Vilas and Wood counties.

The flight marks the Wausau-based NFHF organization’s 56^th flight since the first took place in April 2010.

A total of 95 Vietnam-era veterans and one Korea-era veteran are scheduled to take the flight.

Among those listed to take the trip are Tomahawk veterans David Hetzel, Air Force; Richard Mann, Army; and Walter Schiltz, Army; as well as Irma resident David Hanke, Air Force.

Veterans from other communities throughout northern and central Wisconsin, including Antigo, Fifield, Irma, Medford, Merrill, Mosinee, Park Falls, Phillips, Prentice, Rhinelander, Tripoli and Wausau, are also listed on the roster.

The veterans will be accompanied by 77 guardians on the one-day round trip that will depart Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA) in Mosinee at 6:30 a.m. and is scheduled to return at approximately 10 p.m.

The public is invited to CWA to welcome the veterans home.

As part of NFHF, veterans receive a free round-trip flight, and guardians pay $500.00 for the opportunity to accompany up to three veterans on the trip.

Veterans and guardians interested in taking a future Honor Flight can complete an application at www.neverforgottenhonorflight.com or contact the organization at 715-573-8519.

All veterans from the World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War eras are encouraged to submit an application. The only criteria for veterans to qualify for an Honor Flight is to have served (active duty, reserves or National Guard) prior to May 7, 1975, regardless of where they served.

Completed applications for veterans and guardians also can be mailed to Never Forgotten Honor Flight, 4404 Rib Mountain Dr., #234, Wausau, Wis., 54401.

NFHF said the veterans are selected based upon the order in which their applications are received and the conflict they served in.

“Preference is given to World War II veterans, then Korea Veterans, and then Vietnam era veterans,” NFHF stated. “Veterans who are terminally ill, regardless of when they served in those three eras, are given top preference. Guardians should be 18 to 69 years old and able to lend physical assistance to the veterans.”

As of this week’s flight, NFHF has flown 5,391 veterans to Washington, D.C.

North Central Wisconsin’s NFHF is the nation’s 77th regional hub and one of five Wisconsin Honor Flight hubs. The Wausau-based organization was certified by the National Honor Flight Network office in Springfield, Ohio on Dec. 11, 2009.