Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Group wants to send vets to see WWII memorial

By STEVE CAHALAN | La Crosse Tribune

Freedom Honor Flight Inc., a new La Crosse-based affiliate of the national Honor Flight Network, is chartering an airplane to take veterans of the conflict to see the National World War II Memorial and other memorials in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 8.

The group also is starting to raise the estimated $115,000 the first trip will cost, and hopes to arrange two such trips a year, Freedom Honor President Charles E. Hanson said at a press conference Tuesday.

Besides World War II veterans, the trips will be available to any veteran with a terminal illness. There will be no cost to the veterans.

The trips are for veterans within 120 miles of La Crosse. Freedom Honor Flight also is recruiting volunteers, called guardians, to accompany the veterans on the one-day trip. Each guardian will pay his or her way and will attend required training. Relatives, but not spouses, can become guardians.

The chartered aircraft will seat 184 people. That number is expected to include about 100 to 115 veterans, along with guardians and a medical team, Hanson said.

The local group is the first Wisconsin affiliate of the national organization, although there is an affiliate in Rochester, Minn.

There’s a sense of urgency, Hanson said, because World War II veterans are dying at the rate of about 1,700 a day. “We are in a race against time,” he added.

The memorial was dedicated in 2004, almost 60 years after the end of World War II, Hanson said. “By that time, most of these veterans were simply too old or couldn’t afford to take the trip to Washington to receive the honor to which they are justly due,” he said.

Veterans can request an application, and help with the application, through local veterans organizations, by calling (608) 784-1015 or going to the Web site www.freedomhonorflight.org.

Tax-deductible donations to the nonprofit organization can be mailed to Freedom Honor Flight Inc., P.O. Box 505, La Crosse, WI 54602-0505 or can be made through its Web site.

Hanson said the organization appreciates donations of any amount. A veteran can be sponsored with a $500 donation, which covers the day’s costs for one person.

Beginning in September, people will be able to make donations at Kwik Trip stores, one of the organization’s sponsors.

Companies interested in sponsorship can contact any board member.

Freedom Honor also invites people to help with such things as a welcome-home ceremony the night of Oct. 8.

“We can make this a reality for so many deserving veterans across the state,” said David Kurtz of Milwaukee, who is the American Legion’s Wisconsin state commander.

Steve Cahalan can be reached at (608) 791-8229 or scahalan@lacrossetribune.com.