“This is a way to give back” – meet the volunteers of Midwest Honor Flight
In our final story from Midwest Honor Flight, NewsCenter1's Darsha Nelson introduces us to some of the volunteers and why they keep coming back mission after mission.
WASHINGTON — Taking dozens of veterans to Washington would be impossible for Midwest Honor Flight without the help of volunteers.
From medics to bus captains to ground crew – they serve a vital role in mission operations.
“I’m a veteran myself and so I feel like we need to thank and respect our veterans for what they’ve done for our country,” says Midwest Honor Flight volunteer Cheryl Tracy.
Giving their time to those that gave all.
Midwest Honor Flight Board of Directors member and volunteer, Greg Miner, “It becomes changing when you can devote 99.9 percent of your time to your vet to make sure he has his last flight with honor.”
“You can’t describe it – and you can’t see it in a photo – you need to visit and see it in real life and understand how neat it is – and how much it shows thanks and respect for what they’ve done,” Tracy says.
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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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thumbnail_IMG_6470the crowd of supporters that turned out to the arena
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thumbnail_IMG_6478veterans smile and wave to their families
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thumbnail_IMG_6482a young man waves an American flag
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thumbnail_IMG_6484welcome home ceremony to end the day
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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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thumbnail_IMG_6488Patriotic Queen along with veterans holding flags at Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls
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thumbnail_IMG_6392flight attendants wearing patriotic gear on Mission 7
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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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midwest honor flight 1USMC veterans standing in front of the Iwo Jima 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 3Veterans arrive at the Vietnam Memorial (photo courtesy Midwest Honor Flight)
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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 50Bagpipers play for arriving veterans at Sioux Falls Airport
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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 48Midwest Honor Flight and it's motto: "one final tour with honor."
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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 44Veterans arrive back at 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 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 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 33U.S. Air Force Memorial, D.C.
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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 37
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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 26vets arrive at Reagan met by cheering crowds
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Midwest Honor Flight 21Iwo Jima Memorial
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Midwest Honor Flight 22Veterans were transported on four charter busses through D.C.
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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 27vets arrive at D.C.'s Reagan Airport
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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 25A crowd of supporters greet Midwest Honor Flight Mission 7 at D.C.'s Reagan Airport.
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Midwest Honor Flight 30Midwest Honor Flight was greeted by a water cannon salute at D.C.'s Reagan Airport
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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 17the plane from Sioux Falls to D.C. was decorated in patriotic colors
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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 20festive decor on the plane to make it special for Mission 7 veterans
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Midwest Honor Flight 02veterans arrive at Sioux Falls Airport
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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 08Veterans and their guardians get pictures taken at Sioux Falls Airport
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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 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 14boarding begins
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Midwest Honor Flight 13vets line up to board in Sioux Falls
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Midwest Honor Flight 15vets and their guardians wait to board in Sioux Falls
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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
Midwest Honor Flight relies entirely on volunteer efforts.
“I think it is an awesome organization – I think every vet should have a chance to fly and see their memorial and be honored in that way and thanked for their service – so often they weren’t thanked,” Tracy says.
Miner says, “This is a way to give back to the veterans that preceded me – to keep this nation free and safe and everything else.”
Ensuring these heroes can take one final tour with honor.
CLICK HERE for more information on Midwest Honor Flight, including how to volunteer or nominate a veteran to fly.