3 Owatonna veterans fly to Washington, D.C. on Honor Flight
Alan Hughson of Owatonna was one of three area veterans who flew to Washington, D.C. Sept. 16 as part of the North Star Honor Flight. The others were Mel Banks and Bob Bernet. In all, 88 veterans visited a number of sites, including Arlington Cemetery, the World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial and the Vietnam Memorial. Submitted photo
Three residents of Owatonna were among those on the most recent North Star Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. They included Mel Banks, Bob Bernet and Al Hughson.
There were also four veterans from Dodge County who participated including Chuck Anderson and Steve Riese of Mantorville and Ardean Bjornson and Jim Heitkamp of Kasson.
They were among 88 veterans and 76 guardians who made the trip on Sept. 16.
The group flew out of Rochester International Airport in the early morning on board a chartered Sun Country Airlines plane. Before leaving there was a brief program for the veterans and the guardians going with them.
On arrival in the nation’s capital they set off on a guided bus tour that included stops at Arlington National Cemetery, the WWII Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial, and the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps memorials.
The group returned to Rochester that night.
The mission of North Star Honor Flight is to take WWII, Korean, Vietnam Era and terminally ill veterans on all-expense-paid trips to Washington, D.C., where they can reflect, connect and experience their nation’s gratitude firsthand.
North Star Honor Flight is a member of the Honor Flight® Network and is a 100% volunteer-run, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Accompanying the veterans on their flights are physicians and paramedics to help with oxygen, medication and personal needs, enabling those with chronic health problems or disabilities to attend. A guardian is assigned to each veteran to provide additional assistance. More information and applications for involvement as an honored veteran or guardian can be found at www.northstarhonorflight.org.
North Star Honor Flight serves ten counties in Minnesota and five counties in Iowa, covering an area that stretches from Mason City, Iowa, to Rochester and beyond. Minnesota counties included are: Blue Earth, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Mower, Olmsted, Steele and Waseca. The Iowa counties are Cerro Gordo, Howard, Mitchell, Worth and Winnebago.