Volunteers and the fundamental role they play in Honor Flight missions
This is the final installment of our six-part series on Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10!
WASHINGTON — Volunteers fill an essential role for Midwest Honor Flight, and they serve for personal reasons.
“I remember what it was like for my brother to come home from Vietnam as a war hero. I was 12 or 13 years old,” says Daniel Tracy, medic assist for MHF. “I lived in Chicago. He had a chest full of medals, and when he came home, people were calling him names, spitting at him, yelling…and I didn’t understand. I said to my dad, ‘why are they saying that about Tom?’ and my dad just said, ‘just walk…just walk…’ And it wasn’t until years later that I understood what was going on with that whole thing.”
Veteran Wilmer Van De Berg of Sioux Center, Iowa, poses with a Midwest Honor Flight medic at the F.D.R. Memorial. Van De Berg served in the Army during Vietnam.
Medics like Tracy help ensure these veterans have a safe and healthy experience.
Chris Van Beek, the lead medic, says, “We all bring different things to the table as far as what our roles are in our civilian life. So we make sure that we can transfer on and off these planes safely and that everybody is well hydrated and they have their medications and that kind of thing.”
Each veteran gets paired with a guardian. Some have family members as guardians, others have volunteers — all share an incredible experience.
Reporter: “Tell me about the bonding that happened between you and your vet?
Lonnie Harshbarger, volunteer guardian: “He was in the Vietnam War; he did a lot of desk work…typing…but once he saw that wall, he just broke down. He gave me a big hug and [said] thank you for being the guardian for me today…it was awesome.”
Many serve mission after mission, coming back to express their thanks to our nation’s veterans.
“We’ve had people come to our house that have said, ‘you know, I’ve been married 40 years and my husband is a totally different person because of Honor Flight,” Tracy says. “For that reason alone, we’ll do them as long as we can afford it and as long as we’re healthy enough.”
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10Midwest Honor Flight President/Director Aaron Van Beek and a U.S. Park Police officer at West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C. Local law enforcement provided an escort for much of the day.Midwest Honor Flight President/Director Aaron Van Beek and a U.S. Park Police officer at West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C. Local law enforcement provided an escort for much of the day.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10Vietnam veteran and POW Martin Saffel of Sioux Falls receives a 50th anniversary commemorative pin from a solider at the Vietnam veterans memorial in Washington, D.C.Vietnam veteran and POW Martin Saffel of Sioux Falls receives a 50th anniversary commemorative pin from a solider at the Vietnam veterans memorial in Washington, D.C.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 1084 veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars pose for a photo at the Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C. The large building in the background is the National Archives.84 veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars pose for a photo at the Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C. The large building in the background is the National Archives.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10More than 100 people gathered at the convention center in Sioux Falls to welcome home the veterans of Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10. The veterans had no idea this surprise was waiting for them.More than 100 people gathered at the convention center in Sioux Falls to welcome home the veterans of Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10. The veterans had no idea this surprise was waiting for them.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10A veteran and his wife pose during the welcome home ceremony for Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10A veteran and guardian pair take a rubbing of a name on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.A veteran and guardian pair take a rubbing of a name on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10Veterans and their guardians walk along the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10A veteran poses in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10Medic Assist Dan Tracy helps veterans and guardians onto the bus bound for Sioux Falls Airport.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10A shirt worn by all guardians traveling on Midwest Honor Flight
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10Veterans, guardians, medics, and flight crew gather in the lobby of the Sioux Falls Sheridan in the early morning hours of June 1, 2022.Veterans, guardians, medics, and flight crew gather in the lobby of the Sioux Falls Sheridan in the early morning hours of June 1, 2022.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10Seeing double: twin veterans (from left): Ronald and Donald Damstra, Gene and Dean Beitelspacher, all of Iowa, pose with their "mission orders."Seeing double: twin veterans (from left): Ronald and Donald Damstra, Gene and Dean Beitelspacher, all of Iowa, pose with their "mission orders."
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10Veteran David Fahlsing (left), talks with Midwest Honor Flight President/Director Aaron Van Beek. Fahlsing, who is from Minnesota, served in the Navy during Vietnam.Veteran David Fahlsing (left), talks with Midwest Honor Flight President/Director Aaron Van Beek. Fahlsing, who is from Minnesota, served in the Navy during Vietnam.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10From left to right: Gene and Dean Beitelspacher, Ronald and Donald Damstra, all of Iowa. It was a Midwest Honor Flight first to have a set of veteran twins - and they had two sets on Mission 10! The Damstra's served in the Army during Vietnam, and the Beitelspacher's both served in the Air Force in Vietnam.From left to right: Gene and Dean Beitelspacher, Ronald and Donald Damstra, all of Iowa. It was a Midwest Honor Flight first to have a set of veteran twins - and they had two sets on Mission 10! The Damstra's served in the Army during Vietnam, and the Beitelspacher's both served in the Air Force in Vietnam.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10Flight crew and bus captain Greg Miner directs incoming veterans towards check-in for the Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10 banquet on Tuesday, May 31, 2022.Flight crew and bus captain Greg Miner directs incoming veterans towards check-in for the Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10 banquet on Tuesday, May 31, 2022.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10SSgt. Jeremy Eimers and TSgt. Morgan Haugen of the South Dakota Air National Guard's 114th Fighter Wing wait at Sioux Falls Airport to greet veterans. SSgt. Eimers and TSgt. Haugen were part of the honor guard that presented colors during the National Anthem before boarding.SSgt. Jeremy Eimers and TSgt. Morgan Haugen of the South Dakota Air National Guard's 114th Fighter Wing wait at Sioux Falls Airport to greet veterans. SSgt. Eimers and TSgt. Haugen were part of the honor guard that presented colors during the National Anthem before boarding.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10The gate at Sioux Falls Airport was decorated patriotically for Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10The honor guard from the South Dakota Air National Guard's 114th Fighter Wing based in Sioux Falls.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10The honor guard and members of Sioux Falls Fire and Paramedic Services greet veterans as they board in Sioux Falls.The honor guard and members of Sioux Falls Fire and Paramedic Services greet veterans as they board in Sioux Falls.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10It's all smiles on the jet bridge - appropriately decorated for Mission 10!
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10Paramedics/firefighters from Sioux Falls greet veterans as they board
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10Firefighters/paramedics in Sioux Falls showed up early to the airport to see our veterans off on Mission 10!Firefighters/paramedics in Sioux Falls showed up early to the airport to see our veterans off on Mission 10!
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10The cabin of the chartered American Airlines flight was appropriately decorated to celebrate the veterans of Mission 10!The cabin of the chartered American Airlines flight was appropriately decorated to celebrate the veterans of Mission 10!
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10Inside the American Airlines chartered flight from Sioux Falls to Washington, D.C.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10The Washington Monument, as seen from West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C. It was 94 degrees during Mission 10's visit!The Washington Monument, as seen from West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C. It was 94 degrees during Mission 10's visit!
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10The veterans paid a visit to the outdoor Frankly Delano Roosevelt Memorial, which sits along the Potomac River in West Potomac Park.The veterans paid a visit to the outdoor Frankly Delano Roosevelt Memorial, which sits along the Potomac River in West Potomac Park.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10Korea Veteran Thomas Secrest, of Spearfish, holds his U.S. Navy photo during a group picture at the Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C.Korea Veteran Thomas Secrest, of Spearfish, holds his U.S. Navy photo during a group picture at the Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10Crews at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. greeted Mission 10's flight with a water cannon salute.Crews at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. greeted Mission 10's flight with a water cannon salute.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10Midwest Honor Flight President/Director Aaron Van Beek greets veterans as they arrive at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. for their day of honorMidwest Honor Flight President/Director Aaron Van Beek greets veterans as they arrive at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. for their day of honor
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10Inside Reagan National Airport in D.C.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10Crowds gathered inside Reagan National Airport in D.C. to welcome Mission 10 veterans
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10Inside the jet bridge at Reagan National Airport in D.C.; as you can see, they decorated too!
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10A very patriotic flight to D.C.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10The Washington Monument, dominating the skyline across the Potomac River in Washington, D.C.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10A quote from F.D.R. printed on the memorial
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10The F.D.R. Memorial contains many water features
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10Veteran Wilmer Van De Berg of Sioux Center, Iowa, poses with a Midwest Honor Flight medic at the F.D.R. Memorial. Van De Berg served in the Army during Vietnam.Veteran Wilmer Van De Berg of Sioux Center, Iowa, poses with a Midwest Honor Flight medic at the F.D.R. Memorial. Van De Berg served in the Army during Vietnam.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10The Washington Monument, as seen from the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10The Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10The Lincoln Memorial, situated at the opposite end of the reflecting pool from the Washington Monument and directly between the Korean War and Vietnam War memorials.The Lincoln Memorial, situated at the opposite end of the reflecting pool from the Washington Monument and directly between the Korean War and Vietnam War memorials.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10The Washington Monument, as seen from the Lincoln Memorial. The reflecting pool separates them.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10The Vietnam veterans on Mission 10 pose for a group photo at their memorial.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10Local volunteers don period clothing to see the veterans of Mission 10 off as they depart Washington's Reagan Airport.Local volunteers don period clothing to see the veterans of Mission 10 off as they depart Washington's Reagan Airport.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10The changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10The changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10The changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier can be seen towards the center of this picture. It's located at Arlington National Cemetery.The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier can be seen towards the center of this picture. It's located at Arlington National Cemetery.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10The veterans got an up-close look at the changing of the guard ceremony at Arlington National CemeteryThe veterans got an up-close look at the changing of the guard ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10A veteran walks along the wall at the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C. The Memorial's designer used actual wartime photographs for the etchings.A veteran walks along the wall at the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C. The Memorial's designer used actual wartime photographs for the etchings.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10U.S. Navy Vietnam veteran David Fahlsing, of Minnesota, is stopped by a group of young people while walking to the Vietnam War Memorial. The girls shook Fahlsing's hand and repeatedly thanked him for his service.U.S. Navy Vietnam veteran David Fahlsing, of Minnesota, is stopped by a group of young people while walking to the Vietnam War Memorial. The girls shook Fahlsing's hand and repeatedly thanked him for his service.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10Some Vietnam veterans hold their old service photos during the group picture at the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C.Some Vietnam veterans hold their old service photos during the group picture at the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10Midwest Honor Flight President/Director Aaron Van Beek (left) and Vice President Cory Van Sloten (center) hand out mail to the veterans of Mission 10. Family, friends, and strangers send mail for each veteran. Van Beek had four suitcases full of mail for the veterans of Mission 10!Midwest Honor Flight President/Director Aaron Van Beek (left) and Vice President Cory Van Sloten (center) hand out mail to the veterans of Mission 10. Family, friends, and strangers send mail for each veteran. Van Beek had four suitcases full of mail for the veterans of Mission 10!
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10Midwest Honor Flight President/Director Aaron Van Beek welcomes each veteran home as they depart Sioux Falls Airport.Midwest Honor Flight President/Director Aaron Van Beek welcomes each veteran home as they depart Sioux Falls Airport.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10Local veterans and veteran motorcycle organizations showed up to escort the veterans to the convention center for their surprise welcome home.Local veterans and veteran motorcycle organizations showed up to escort the veterans to the convention center for their surprise welcome home.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10Veteran Harold Peterson of Aurora, South Dakota, introduces Midwest Honor Flight President/Director Aaron Van Beek to his family. Peterson served in the Navy during Vietnam.Veteran Harold Peterson of Aurora, South Dakota, introduces Midwest Honor Flight President/Director Aaron Van Beek to his family. Peterson served in the Navy during Vietnam.
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10
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Midwest Honor Flight Mission 10
Missed any of our stories on Midwest Honor Flight? Check them out here:
One day in D.C.: A quick look at what the veterans of Midwest Honor Flight do on their special day
The man behind the mission: Midwest Honor Flight’s Aaron Van Beek
Navy veterans reflect on service, brotherhood during Honor Flight
SEEING DOUBLE: Twin Vietnam veterans share their experience during Honor Flight
Honor Flight gives Vietnam vets the welcome home they deserve
Midwest Honor Flight is a hub of the Honor Flight Network. It’s a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization that takes veterans of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam veterans to Washington, D.C. to see the memorials dedicated to their service. The trip is provided entirely free-of-charge to the veterans.
CLICK HERE for more information on Midwest Honor Flight, including how to apply for a trip and information on donations.
