Thank You

I had the distinct honor of being on the 39th Never Forgotten Honor Flight on May 2 with fellow veterans from Gilman, Wisconsin Rapids, Stratford, Antigo, Medford, Stevens Point, Wausau, Friendship, Port Edwards, Weston, Marathon, Edgar, Cadott, Rhinelander, Plover, Rosholt, Tigerton, Eagle River, Nekoosa, Tomahawk, Rib Lake, Mosinee, Brantwood, Arbor Vitae, Elcho, Hatley, Iron River, Rudolph, Marshfield, Cambridge, Minn, Schofield, Athens, Stanley, St. Germain, Boulder Junction, Rothschild, Schofield, New Berlin, Lake Tomahawk, Glasgow, Ky. and Butternut. It was an experience that every veteran should take advantage of. The Never Forgotten Honor Flight Organization is a well-oiled machine. The organization that the co-founders Jim Campbell and Mike Thompson have put together is nothing but phenomenal. The hundreds of volunteers that make every veteran feel really special, the Sunday Pre-Journey Honor Flight Dinner get together to the special meal catered by the 2510 Restaurant and the entertainment program that followed the meal. All the volunteers that were at the airport at 4 a.m. to help get everyone signed in for the flight. Arriving at Reagan National Airport and entering the airport being greeted by applause and cheering to some 50 plus airport travelers waiting for their flight was an amazing surprise.

Four buses transported us to view the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean Memorial, the Vietnam Wall, the WWII Memorial, the Marine Memorial, the Air Force Memorial, the Pentagon Memorial and the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Arlington National Cemetery. The time spent at the Vietnam Wall was the busiest of all the memorials and the most emotional. Veterans finding names of fallen comrades. If the dice had been rolled differently, veterans could have been looking for my name or any of the other veterans viewing the Vietnam Wall.

Arriving back at CWA we all expected to be greeted by family members and a few friends. It turned out to be a huge crowd to welcome us back and made this another emotional part of the trip, although this was a good emotional experience. I did not expect the huge Edgar showing of family and friends that were there to welcome us back. A big thank you to all that were there to greet us at that late hour.

I and all the veterans who had the pleasure of being on this memorable trip just can’t thank this wonderful organization enough. Again thanks for Jim Campbell, Mike Thompson, the Guardians that did an excellent job assisting veterans, the hundreds of volunteers that made this trip possible. A thank you to all the businesses and individuals that donate money to make these flights possible. Melissa Langbehn from WAOW and her busy camera man, Curtis Aderholdt, who did an excellent job covering the events of the day and to Dave Junion for his busy job of taking thousands of candid photos of the veterans. A special thank you for all the cards and letters we received from our Mail Call on the flight.

I and my fellow veterans from Edgar would like to especially thank Jan Wendtland for everything she does for the Honor Flight. On Sunday, Jan presented the Edgar Veterans an embroidered cloth inside a shadow box with each serviceman’s name, unit of service and time of service. This will be a special keep sake. Thank you Jan for your unending dedication.

Jason Handrick Edgar

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