Westerville’s sixth community-sponsored Honor Flight of veterans to Washington D.C. will take place on Saturday, September 27. The Honor Flight program flies senior veterans from WWII and the Korean conflict to the nation’s capitol to see their monuments, free of charge, as a way of thanking them for their service to our country.
In addition to community members who pay $300 each to have the honor of escorting the service men and women, the Westerville Committee also invites a teacher and pupil from each of the three local high schools to participate as guardians, at no cost. “We believe it’s important for teachers and students to hear firsthand the history experienced by our veterans,” said Diane Fosselman, representing the Westerville Honor Flight Committee.
To date, more than $250,000 has been raised in Westerville for this program. In Westerville Schools, money has been contributed through activities like “Hats for Heroes,” where, for a small donation, students are allowed to wear hats to school on one designated day.
Each trip to Washington features a “mail call,” where veterans receive messages of gratitude from children and adults. Students who cannot yet write are encouraged to draw pictures. Youngsters should sign their correspondence using first names only. Notes and drawings can be sent to Lisa Reschke at Cherrington Elementary, which is located at 522 Cherrington Road in Westerville. To be included in the September flight, letters must be received by no later than September 16. The public is also invited to welcome home the returning veterans on the evening of September 27 at Port Columbus International Airport. For further information about the letter campaign, please contact Lisa Reschke at reschkel@wcsoh.org . To donate to Honor Flight or learn more about how to get involved, visit www.honorflightcolumbus.org.