Area veterans take part in Never Forgotten Honor Flight

The Never Forgotten Honor Flight organization based in Wausau will fly 98 Vietnam and 1 Korea era veterans from central and northern Wisconsin to Washington, D.C. to see the memorials that honor their service on Monday, September 22. It’s the organization’s 53rd flight since the first Never Forgotten Honor Flight took place April 27, 2010.

Veterans from this area who took part in the Never Forgotten Honor Flight include: Robert Preston, of Gilman — he is a Vietnam veteran who served in the U.S. Army.

Raymond Strobach, of Rib Lake — he is a Vietnam era veteran of the U.S. Army who was stationed at Fort Ord on Monterey Bay on the Pacific Ocean coast in California.

Gerald Gonnering, of Dorchester — he is a Vietnam veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He served in Vietnam from June 1959 to May 1962, earning the rank of A3. He served at Lincoln Air Force Base in Nebraska, Selfridge Air Force Base in Michigan as an aircraft general mechanic on flight line.

William Kemp, of Ogema — he is a Vietnam veteran of the U.S. Navy. He served from May 28, 1969 to February 2, 1973. He was stationed in San Diego Calif, Pensacola, Fla., Kamiseya and Misawa, Japan and the NSA in Washington DC. He had top secret crypto clearance and worked in Naval Security.

Leroy Steffen, of Ogema — he is a Vietnam veteran of the U.S. Army. He was stationed throughout central Vietnam, as ammunition storage tech.

In addition to the veterans, 74 guardians accompanied them on the oneday round trip that departs Central Wisconsin Airport at 6:30 a.m. and was scheduled to return at approximately 10 p.m.

After Monday’s trip, the Never Forgotten Honor Flight will have flown 5,119 veterans to Washington, D.C. All veterans that served prior to May 7, 1975 are encouraged to submit an application (via the website (neverforgottenhonorflight.com/), or by calling 715-573-8532). The only criteria for veterans to qualify for the Never Forgotten Honor Flight, is to have served (active duty, reserves or national guard) prior to 7 May 1975, regardless of where they served.

Veterans receive a free round-trip flight, and guardians pay $500 for the opportunity to accompany one, two or three veterans on the trip. Veterans and guardians interested in taking a future Honor Flight must complete an application at: www. neverforgottenhonorflight.com or contact us at 715-573-8532. The veterans are selected based upon the order in which their applications are received and the conflict they served in. Priority is given to World War II era veterans, then Korea era Veterans and then Vietnam era veterans. Veterans who are terminally ill, regardless of when they served in those three eras, are given top priority. Guardians should be 18-69 years old and able to lend physical assistance to the veterans. Guardians cannot be a spouse or “significant other”. Veteran and guardian applications can be completed online or mailed to Never Forgotten Honor Flight, 225780 Rib Mountain Drive, #234, Wausau, WI 54401.

North Central Wisconsin’s Never Forgotten Honor Flight is the nation’s 77th regional hub (of 128 nationally) and one of five Wisconsin Honor Flight hubs. The Wausau-based organization was certified by the National Honor Flight Network office in Springfield, Ohio on December 11, 2009.