Midwest Honor Flight talks fundraising and why their mission is so important
"So to engage all the generations in a mission like this speaks volumes to what the Midwest is all about," says Midwest Honor Flight President and Director, Aaron Van Beek.
WASHINGTON — After being grounded for nearly two years, Midwest Honor Flight took off from Sioux Falls Saturday with 82 veterans on board – bound for Washington, D.C., to show them the memorials built to their service.
“It’s been a long 23 months, but the veterans’ faces and their excitement today and just the words they’ve said in conversation to one another and to me speak volumes as to why this day is so important,” says Midwest Honor Flight President and Director, Aaron Van Beek.
USMC veterans standing in front of the Iwo Jima Memorial (photo courtesy Midwest Honor Flight)
Midwest Honor Flight covers northwestern Iowa, southwestern Minnesota, and the state of South Dakota, bringing veterans from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam to Washington at no charge.
Van Beek says, “Every single veteran that comes on an honor flight has a different experience…there’s some that came home and they were not welcomed home – there’s some that came back as victors that saved the world – there’s some that feel like their war was forgotten.”
The nonprofit spends months planning and fundraising for each mission.
“It’s $753 for every person that comes on flight – that includes the chartered flight, the meals, the bussing, the permits that we have – everything that the veteran experiences on this trip is included in that $753,” Van Beek says.
It may not seem like a lot, but that adds up quick.
“Total package? $150,000 to bring 82 veterans out here today – their guardians – and our crew.”
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thumbnail_IMG_6291A veteran and his guardian pause to admire the Washington Monument
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thumbnail_IMG_6279World War II veterans Arnold Hinseth (Army - South Dakota) and Phares Lefever (Air Corps - Iowa) hold hands in front of the WWII Memorial Wall of Stars in Washington, D.C.World War II veterans Arnold Hinseth (Army - South Dakota) and Phares Lefever (Air Corps - Iowa) hold hands in front of the WWII Memorial Wall of Stars in Washington, D.C.
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thumbnail_IMG_6452veterans were surprised with a welcome home ceremony upon returning to Sioux Falls Saturday night
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thumbnail_IMG_6457Midwest Honor Flight arrives back in Sioux Falls for a welcome home ceremony
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midwest honor flight 4Korea Memorial, currently under construction in D.C. (photo courtesy Midwest Honor Flight)
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midwest honor flight 3Veterans arrive at the Vietnam Memorial (photo courtesy Midwest Honor Flight)
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midwest honor flight 2Vietnam veterans on Mission 7 outside the Vietnam Memorial (photo courtesy Midwest Honor Flight)
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midwest honor flight 1USMC veterans standing in front of the Iwo Jima Memorial (photo courtesy Midwest Honor Flight)
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midwest honor flightChanging of the Guard and Wreath Laying Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. (photo courtesy Midwest Honor Flight)Changing of the Guard and Wreath Laying Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. (photo courtesy Midwest Honor Flight)
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thumbnail_IMG_6488Patriotic Queen along with veterans holding flags at Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls
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thumbnail_IMG_6487veterans are greeted by a crowd of supporters when they arrive back at the arena
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Midwest Honor Flight 49A veteran reads letters sent from friends, family, and supporters on the flight back to Sioux Falls
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Midwest Honor Flight 47Mission 7 veterans load up on a bus to the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls.
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Midwest Honor Flight 46Law enforcement and local veterans line up to provide an escort back to the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls.Law enforcement and local veterans line up to provide an escort back to the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls.
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Midwest Honor Flight 45Midwest Honor Flight President Aaron Van Beek shakes hands with Mission 7 veterans as they return to Sioux Falls Airport.Midwest Honor Flight President Aaron Van Beek shakes hands with Mission 7 veterans as they return to Sioux Falls Airport.
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Midwest Honor Flight 43Midwest Honor Flight veterans arrive at Sioux Falls Airport, greeted by other local veterans and cheering supporters.Midwest Honor Flight veterans arrive at Sioux Falls Airport, greeted by other local veterans and cheering supporters.
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Midwest Honor Flight 42Local veterans present colors at Sioux Falls Airport for the arriving Midwest Honor Flight
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Midwest Honor Flight 41The Washington Monument, seen across the reflecting pool on the National Mall.
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Midwest Honor Flight 40
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Midwest Honor Flight 39
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Midwest Honor Flight 38
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Midwest Honor Flight 48Midwest Honor Flight and it's motto: "one final tour with honor."
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Midwest Honor Flight 37
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Midwest Honor Flight 36
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Midwest Honor Flight 34Two World War II veterans - Arnold Hinseth (SD) and Phares Lefever (IA) - sit in front of the WWII Memorial in D.C.Two World War II veterans - Arnold Hinseth (SD) and Phares Lefever (IA) - sit in front of the WWII Memorial in D.C.
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Midwest Honor Flight 32Fall is beginning to arrive in D.C. - you can see the changing leaves framing the Washington Monument.Fall is beginning to arrive in D.C. - you can see the changing leaves framing the Washington Monument.
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Midwest Honor Flight 31A statue of Airmen stand next to the three pillars of the Air Force Memorial in D.C.
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Midwest Honor Flight 35The area surrounding the U.S. Air Force Memorial in D.C., located near the Pentagon
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Midwest Honor Flight 23A man holds a sign while directing veterans to their busses outside Reagan Airport in D.C.
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Midwest Honor Flight 05veterans and their guardians begin checking in Saturday morning
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Midwest Honor Flight 04breakfast is passed out to vets and their guardians before the flight
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Midwest Honor Flight 03
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Midwest Honor Flight 22Veterans were transported on four charter busses through D.C.
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Midwest Honor Flight 20festive decor on the plane to make it special for Mission 7 veterans
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Midwest Honor Flight 01a statue of former South Dakota Governor and WWII "Flying Ace" Joe Foss stands in the lobby at Sioux Falls Airporta statue of former South Dakota Governor and WWII "Flying Ace" Joe Foss stands in the lobby at Sioux Falls Airport
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Midwest Honor Flight 19veterans, guardians, and flight crews on the way to D.C.'s Reagan Airport Saturday morning
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Midwest Honor Flight 18
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Midwest Honor Flight 17the plane from Sioux Falls to D.C. was decorated in patriotic colors
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Midwest Honor Flight 16boarding the plane from Sioux Falls to D.C.'s Reagan Airport
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Midwest Honor Flight 25A crowd of supporters greet Midwest Honor Flight Mission 7 at D.C.'s Reagan Airport.
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Midwest Honor Flight 29
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Midwest Honor Flight 28deplaning at Reagan Airport - gate attendants and flight crews clapped and cheered as the veterans came outdeplaning at Reagan Airport - gate attendants and flight crews clapped and cheered as the veterans came out
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Midwest Honor Flight 24Crowds cheer for veterans arriving at Reagan Airport
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Midwest Honor Flight 12veterans shake hands with SD military members who presented colors during the National Anthem on Saturdayveterans shake hands with SD military members who presented colors during the National Anthem on Saturday
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Midwest Honor Flight 11veterans and their guardians wait at Sioux Falls Airport
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Midwest Honor Flight 10boarding begins in Sioux Falls as veterans shake hands with the SD military members who presented colors during the National Anthem Saturday morningboarding begins in Sioux Falls as veterans shake hands with the SD military members who presented colors during the National Anthem Saturday morning
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Midwest Honor Flight 09
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Midwest Honor Flight 08Veterans and their guardians get pictures taken at Sioux Falls Airport
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Midwest Honor Flight 07
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Midwest Honor Flight 06An early hotel meeting on Saturday morning before heading to the airport
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Midwest Honor Flight 15vets and their guardians wait to board in Sioux Falls
Thankfully, they get support from a number of sources.
“We do dances…we’ve partnered with restaurants…a lot of Legions, VFW’s, and civic groups will partner alongside of us – but we’ve also had some schools do some fundraisers for us,” Van Beek says. “So to engage all the generations in a mission like this speaks volumes to what the Midwest is all about.”
These volunteers dedicating their time to ensure our nation’s veterans can take their final tour with honor.
veterans, guardians, and flight crews on the way to D.C.’s Reagan Airport Saturday morning
CLICK HERE for more information on Midwest Honor Flight and how you can donate or volunteer.
You can also catch the final story from Midwest Honor Flight Mission 7 here on NewsCenter1 Thursday night.
