Honor Flight Next Month

talongout3
talongout3

Set for September 15 is the next Talons Out Honor Flight. Talons Out is an organization that provides free trips to Washington, D.C. for veterans of the Korean War and World War II so they can see their war memorials. The group’s Bobbie Bradley tells WSJM News they’ve been doing this since 2013.

“Probably 90% of our veterans have never been to Washington, D.C. and so being able to take them and have them experience it in this way for the first time is really, really special,” Bradley said.

This next trip brings a milestone as Talons Out is taking its 1,000th veteran.

“Look at the 1,000th veteran, it’s just unbelievable what we’ve been able to do with the support of the community, whether it’s donations or coming out to events,” Bradley said.

Bradley tells us veteran number 1,000 is 100-year-old Master Sergeant Julius Gimesky of Jackson. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corp in the 5th Bombardment Group stationed in Hawaii and was present at Pearl Harbor during the attack by the Japanese. Talons Out is one of 137 Honor Flight organizations around the country. The September 15 trip will leave from Kalamazoo in the morning and bring the veterans home that night. Each gets to bring a companion. Everything is free of charge and thanks to donors. You can find out more and help at TalonsOutHonorFlight.org.