Donations to Honor Flight increase in recent weeks

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BY JOE DUGGAN / Lincoln Journal Star

Donations to fly Nebraska World War II veterans to the nation’s capital have picked up in the three weeks since the Heartland Honor Flight completed its first trip.

Flight organizers say news coverage of the May 21 flight, which took 102 veterans from Omaha to Washington, has helped increase donations for future flights.

But it also prompted a new wave of applications by World War II veterans who want to go on the trip, pushing the waiting list to about 700.

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Veterans gather for a welcoming ceremony at the World War II Memorial after arriving on the first Heartland Honor Flight. (Mike Theiler)

Veterans gather for a welcoming ceremony at the World War II Memorial after arriving on the first Heartland Honor Flight. (Mike Theiler)

About 125 of those veterans will be on the second private charter flight, which will depart July 8 from the Lincoln Airport. The roughly $80,000 cost of the second flight has been raised, said John Liebsack, state adjutant and quartermaster for the Nebraska VFW.

In addition, organizers have received more than $70,000 in individual donations for future flights, which will be matched by the Peter Kiewit Foundation in Omaha. The foundation has pledged to match up to $207,500 in contributions.

“I feel good about what’s going on, really good,” Liebsack said Tuesday. “Having done a flight and planning another one adds a lot more credibility.”

The flights are organized by Bill and Evonne Williams of Omaha and sponsored by the Nebraska VFW. They also receive organizational assistance from the national Honor Flight Network.

During the first flight, the Nebraska veterans spent time at the National World War II Memorial, as well as memorials to the Vietnam War, the Korean War and the Marine Corps.

They also toured Arlington National Cemetery and saw the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

Bill Williams said Tuesday a pre-flight dinner is planned at Memorial Stadium the night before the Lincoln departure. The flight will leave early July 8 and return about 10 p.m. the same day.

As of now, they’re also planning to spend more on tour buses to minimize the veterans’ exposure to what are expected to be hot and humid conditions. The ages of veterans registered for the second flight range from 80 to 95, Williams said.

About 35 seats on the plane will be occupied by guardians, medical professionals and organizers, who pay their own way.

The calls and letters of thanks from veterans after the first flight were heartwarming, Williams said.

One vet said it was the best thing that happened to him in 50 years.

“They’re still so excited about it,” Williams said. “In coffee klatches all over the state, they’re still talking about it.”

Reach Joe Duggan at 473-7239 or jduggan@journalstar.com.