Veterans Honored With Flights and Ceremonies

In Topeka, the Prairie Flint Hills Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Disabled American Veterans honored about 20 Vietnam War veterans with gold pins at a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the war’s end, noting many did not receive adequate recognition when they returned. Separately in Colorado, Dream Flights, a nonprofit restoring World War II–era Stearman biplanes, is offering short open‑cockpit, roughly 15‑minute flights to senior veterans as part of nationwide events such as Operation September Freedom. Veterans including 93‑year‑old Andy McDermott, Navy vet Lawrence “Ozzie” Oswald, former Air Force airman Richard Hood, 96‑year‑old Bob Fleak, and Lloyd Hart described the rides as a “flight of a lifetime” and often signed plane tails afterward. Organizers say Dream Flights has flown more than 6,000 to nearly 8,000 seniors since 2011, and that a day of flights for five to eight veterans costs about $5,000. Organizers and ceremony leaders emphasized the importance of continuing such ceremonies and flights so older veterans receive long‑overdue recognition and memorable experiences.