Monday morning, 100 veterans from across central and northern Wisconsin gathered at Mosinee’s Central Wisconsin Airport to board the 33rd Never Forgotten Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

Four area veterans were invited to fly on the Honor Flight Monday, September 17. Included in those four were Army and Korea Veteran David Bachman of Birnamwood, Air Force and Vietnam Veteran Gilbert Godfrey of Deerbrook, Navy and Korea Veteran Jack Rusch of Antigo, and Army and Korea Veteran Wayne Smith of Antigo.

Each trip is a one day trip. Veterans spend most of the time at the World War II, Korean & Vietnam Memorials. They also visit the Lincoln Memorial, Air Force Memorial, Iwo Jima Memorial (Marine Corps War Memorial), Arlington National Cemetery and the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

On Monday, October 15, the 34th Never Forgotten Honor Flight will fly out of Mosinee with 106 Wisconsin Veterans. Included in those 106 are 5 area veterans, including Army and Vietnam Veteran Roger Evans of Elcho, Navy and Vietnam Veteran Gerald Geiger of Antigo, Army and Vietnam Veteran Daniel Southworth of Aniwa, Army and Vietnam Veteran Roger Thorpe of Aniwa, and Army and Vietnam Veteran John Winburn of Elcho.

The Never Forgotten Honor Flight program is based out of Wausau and was founded in 2009. All veterans, regardless of active combat experience but having served in WWII, Korea, or the Vietnam Era are eligible for the free sightseeing excursion to the capital. As of May 21, 2018, the Never Forgotten Honor Flight Hub has flown 2,935 veterans and 1,784 guardians to Washington D.C.