Area veterans take part in Never Forgotten Honor Flight

The Never Forgotten Honor Flight organization, based in Wausau, flew 111 Vietnam Era veterans from central and northern Wisconsin to Washington, D.C. to see the memorials that honor their service on Monday, May 15. It was the organization’s 44th flight since the first Never Forgotten Honor Flight took place April 27, 2010.

Among the veterans on the flight were four from this area.

Bruce Emmerich of Medford served in the U.S. Army from August 1971 to September 1974 and was stationed in Fuerth, Germany with B. Co. 1st 94th Field Artillery doing truck and Howitzer maintenance George Loock of Medford served in the U.S.

Army from May 1958 to April 1964. He served in Hawaii as company barber.

Kim Westrich of Medford served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Nimitz in the pre-commission unit stationed out of Norfolk, Va.

Guadalupe Villarreal of Prentice served in the U.S. Army from July 1967 to July 1969 serving with the infantry in Vietnam.

In addition to the veterans, 61 guardians went along on the one-day round trip that departed Central Wisconsin Airport at 6:30 a.m. and was scheduled to return at approximately 10 p.m. A large group of area residents and family members went to the Central Wisconsin Airport to welcome the veterans home Monday night.

After Monday’s trip, the Never Forgotten Honor Flight has flown 4,187 veterans to Washington, D.C. All veterans that served prior to May 7, 1975 are encouraged to submit an application (via the website, or calling 715-573-8519). The only criteria for veterans to qualify for an honor flight is to have served prior to May 7, 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 the organization at 715-573-8519. The veterans are selected based upon the order in which their applications are received and the conflict they served in. Preference 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 preference. Guardians should be 18-69 years old and able to lend physical assistance to the veterans (cannot be a spouse or “significant other.” Completed applications for veterans and guardians also can be 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 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.