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U.P. Honor Flight prepares for takeoff

ESCANABA — The Upper Peninsula Honor Flight will depart on Mission XIV on Wednesday, May 23.

According to President of the Honor Flight, Scott Knauf, 81 U.P. vets will be on the flight next week. Of the 81, three are World War II veterans, 19 are Korean War veterans and 58 are Vietnam veterans.

The U.P. Honor Flight has been taking veterans from across the Upper Peninsula on an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to see the war memorials built in their honor since 2011. Knuaf noted that as of this flight over 1,000 veterans will have been taken to D.C. to see their memorials through the program.

While in Washington, vets will view eight monuments, including the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam, World War II, and Korean War memorial. Veterans will also have the chance to experience the changing of guard at Arlington National Cemetery as well as a view a performance by the Silent Drill team.

U.P. vets will leave Escanaba at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday from the Delta County Airport, said Knauf. The veterans will return at 8:30 p.m. the same day.

Those wishing to see the vets take off are welcome to come to the airport hangar at 5 a.m., noted Knauf.

The public is also invited to welcome the veterans back home. The hangar will open its doors at 7 p.m. for the general public and community. People planning to welcome the vets home are encouraged to bring American flags, hold signs, and offer open arms to hug the veterans.

In year’s past, the flight’s Z-ramp, which assists veterans in getting on and off the 737 airplane, has come from the Appleton, Wis. area, noted Knauf. This year’s ramp is coming from Houghton, making the flight and things making it possible from the Upper Peninsula.

For more information on how to apply to send a veteran on the flight or for more about the Honor Flight program, ­­visit ­www.upperpeninsulahonorflight.org.

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