Final Honor Flight Scheduled

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The fifth and final flight from Bismarck of World War II veterans leaves Friday morning for Washington, D.C., to visit the World War II Memorial and other national monuments.

Roughrider Honor Flights from Bismarck have escorted more than 500 World War II veterans on the two-day trips, and this final flight will complete the waiting list, according to Honor Flight committee chairman Kevin Cramer.

My father was one of the 500 to have been honored with this flight. He said the trip was absolutely incredible, one of the best experiences ever in his 89 years of life.  My dad served in the US Navy during WWII, making countless trips across the Atlantic taking troops to Europe and returning with prisoners of war. Once the war turned its attention to the Pacific, he made several trips to China.

No veteran ever pays any cost for the trip. All the trips have been funded by donations from businesses, groups and individuals. The cost for each previous flight was about $165,000. Because of rising fuel costs and the size of the final flight, with more than 125 veterans, this flight will approach a cost of $200,000, Cramer said.