12th Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight taking off Saturday; three Wright county vets participating

This Saturday, three veterans from Wright County, along with 148 other northern Iowa veterans, will get the chance to remember fallen comrades be honored for their service to our country. Earl Odland, Jr. (Clarion, World War II), Allyn Christenson (Clarion, Korean War), and Roger Oppedahl (Goldfield, Vietnam War) will leave from the Ft. Dodge Regional airport early and return late from a trip past veterans have called “emotionally fulfilling.”

The Brushy Creek Area Honor Flights have so far taken hundreds of World War II and Korean War veterans from 154 Iowa communities to view their war memorials. Last fall, it was announced that the flights would begin taking Vietnam veterans, as well.

The 151 veterans, plus staff members and group leaders, will go to Washington D.C. and back in the course of one day. Veterans (wearing red) will have the opportunity to tour all the war memorials, particularly their own, at the National Mall in Washington. During the course of the day, staff members (wearing white), make sure the veterans’ needs are cared for. Several medical staff (wearing blue) go on each flight in case of emergency.

For the full story, see the May 5 edition of the Monitor.