Officials from the Never Forgotten Honor Flight say this weekend’s Guns and Hoses charity softball game in Stevens Point is their biggest one yet.
Co-founder Jim Campbell says the softball game has topped all previous fundraisers. “They raised $45,000 which literally fills a 737 with veterans, because we take approximately 90 veterans on every flight.” It costs roughly $500 to send a veteran on a flight to Washington DC, which includes airfare, care, and the activities that surround the day’s events.
Campbell says it’s important that these fundraising events take place, since they rely solely on community donations to run the program. “It comes from individuals, it comes from civic organizations, it comes from schools, it comes from employees from all industries, and it comes from fundraisers put on by individuals and organizations.” Campbell says they also encourage donations year round, since their list of veterans waiting for flights is always there. “We’ve pretty much had between three and 600 veterans in the backlog at all times. We continually need our community support.”
If you’re a military veteran who’s been waffling on going on the Honor Flight, Campbell says you’re entitled for the trip. “The only qualification, and I emphasize the word only, is to serve between the dates that are listed for each of those conflicts. It doesn’t matter if they were in Germany, in Japan, if they never left Texas, it doesn’t matter.”
The next Never Forgotten Honor Flight is scheduled for October 6th.
WSAU