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Midwest Honor Flight

2019 #FNBGiveFirst Winner

Midwest Honor Flight

The following is a feature on Midwest Honor Flight, a $2,000 Final Four winner of #FNBGiveFirst 2019

 

For a veteran who has sacrificed their all for our country, a trip to see the memorials built in their honor can mean the world. Midwest Honor Flight is a non-profit organization giving back to veterans for their service to our country.

Midwest Honor Flight is dedicated to providing veterans honor, respect, and closure with an all-expenses-paid trip to our nation’s capital. The Honor Flight program began in 2005 following the dedication of the WWII memorial. Since then, state and regional chapters have flown thousands of veterans to visit the memorials in Washington D.C. The Midwest Honor Flight chapter serves veterans in Northwest Iowa, South Dakota, and Southwest Minnesota.

“We rely on the support of the communities we serve,” Midwest Honor Flight President Aaron Van Beek said. “This trip will never make up for their service and sacrifice to our country, but partnering organizations can be proud of contributing to make this dream a reality for our veterans.”

Veterans who participate in a Midwest Honor Flight visit Arlington and Washington D.C. The tour includes a tour of Arlington National Cemetery to see The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and witness the Changing of the Guard. Veterans also visit the Iwo Jima (Marine) and Air Force Memorials. With a boxed lunch, the tour also includes time in downtown D.C. as well as the Navy Memorial before ending the trip with stops at the World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War Memorials.

The cost to conduct an Honor Flight trip out of Sioux Falls is approximately $150,000. This is the cost associated with transporting about 80 American veterans, round-trip airfare, meals, transportation, Park Police escort services, t-shirts, insurance, etc.

“We appreciate the support of local businesses that want to ensure their local American heroes get to take this final tour with honor,” Van Beek said. “We are very thankful for the opportunities for giving from local businesses like The First National Bank in Sioux Falls.”

 

 

 

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