Another successful Honor Flight landed late last night at Central Wisconsin Airport with 26 World War II veterans and 57 Korean War veterans on board.  Four years and 15 flights ago, the Never Forgotten Honor Flight was just starting to pursue its goal to fly area veterans who served during World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials erected in their honor.  Since then, the Upper Wisconsin Honor Flight has taken 1,314 veterans on what many agree is the trip of a lifetime.

Steve Krohn of Sheboygan accompanied his 83-year-old father Dick Krohn, a machine gunner in the Korean War and resident of Rhinelander, on yesterday’s trip, telling the Wausau Daily Herald that “besides getting married and having my first child, this will be one of the most memorable things in my life.”

The Honor Flight faces a sense of urgency that increases with each passing day.  “Of the 16.1 million World War II vets who served, there are about 8 percent left,” Co-founder Jim Campbell recently told the paper.  “And tomorrow and every day afterward, we will lose 640 a day.”  When the organization began flying veterans for free to Washington, D.C. to visit war memorials in 2010, its leaders estimated that 8,000 World War II veterans lived in the 12 north central Wisconsin counties it serves.  The youngest World War Veteran to make the trip yesterday was 86.

On a positive note, there couldn’t be a more passionate duo in co-founders Jim Campbell and Mike Thompson with an equally committed network of local support to make it happen.  As Mike Thompson says, “It’s a passion for all of us. I consider it the most important thing I’ve done in my life.  I’ll continue to do it until every veteran that we find can continue to get on that airplane and see the memorials built in their honor.”

For Ghidorzi Companies, it has been a humbling privilege to serve as the hospitality arm of the Honor Flight.  Our Howard Johnson Inn & Conference Center has been command central for the flights from the start and free of charge.  A military-style banquet featuring historic memorabilia and live entertainment reflective of the era is held the night before each flight.  Veterans, chaperones and event organizers also enjoy an overnight hotel stay that makes for a good night’s sleep and efficient departure for their early morning flight.

Ghidorzi Companies is only one of many local businesses, families and individuals who willingly give their time and resources in honor of those who served – a contribution that pales in comparison to the sacrifices of past and present members of the U.S. Military.  God bless America.

World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veterans who are interested in participating in an upcoming Honor Flight can contact the organization at 715-573-8519.

The local Never Forgotten Honor Flight is an affiliate of the national Honor Flight Network.

Photos donated by Dave Junion
CHUCK GHIDORZI SERVES AS CHAPERONE ON A NEVER FORGOTTEN HONOR FLIGHT TRIP