WASHINGTON, D.C. (WZMQ) – On Wednesday, 70 veterans from across the Upper Peninsula visited Washington, D.C. for U.P. Honor Flight Mission XXIX. The group took off from the Delta County Airport around 6 a.m. led by a police escort and plenty of community support.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to get along with everyone here, and see what they’ve been through and what they’re experiencing,” said Athur Pickering of Marquette, who served in the Army from 1971 to 1997.
“To be with the other veterans and see everyone excited, it’s great,” said Dave Tuovila of Iron Mountain, a Navy veteran serving in 1968.
Since its first mission in 2011, every U.P. Honor Flight is unique, with a new individual crew aboard each trip. These are always fairly different in numbers, but very different in stories. Mission XXIX brought along 69 Vietnam War veterans and one Korean War veteran.
“It’s tough. Some of us made it back, some of us didn’t,” said Tuovila. “I found a childhood friend on the Vietnam Wall, we used to shoot squirrels with our BB guns; a heck of a nice guy.”
“A good friend of mine from Wisconsin got called to Vietnam while his wife was about to have their baby in six weeks,” explained Louie Aikens of Sault Ste Marie, who served from 1965 to 1967. “We were out having a few drinks and I said ‘if you buy me a case of beer, I’ll go in and take your place,’ so the next morning I signed over. He was happier than heck, I was happy too.”
During the long 17 hour day, veterans were each assisted by their own chaperone, or Guardian, every step of the way.
“This is a great bonding time with my son,” said Pickering. “He even ran into someone from home who’s also taking his father on this trip.”
While at a stop for lunch at the Iwo Jima Memorial, 1st Congressional District Representative Jack Bergman met with a few members of the flight.
“This is a big deal for them to personally see the monuments here in D.C., and to thank them not only for their service, but for our freedom,” he said.
Year round, Upper Peninsula Honor Flight receives tens of thousands of dollars in donations. These all make the trips possible, which can generate feelings potentially never felt back in these vets’ times of service.
Vets were met with a surprise mail call on the flight home and a very warm welcome home at the airport. Memories made on Mission XIXX will surely carry a story, but also hopefully a sense of closure to these veterans as they return home to the U.P.
