Story courtesy of Lynne P. Shackleford, GoUpstate.com
An unprecedented donation to Honor Flights of South Carolina will allow about 100 World War II veterans from South Carolina to tour Washington, D.C., and visit the World War II memorial on a one-day trip to the nation’s capital next year.
The $60,000 donation by 19 of the state electric cooperatives will finance the Honor Flight trip, which includes a chartered plane, the tour and meals for the veterans.
Bill Dukes, chairman of Honor Flight of South Carolina, said the cooperatives are plugged into veterans who live in rural areas — those who might not have otherwise known of the flights.
“Oftentimes the challenge for us is to find the veterans, to let them know that this opportunity is available so the beauty of the flight for us is being able to reach out to those who live in rural areas,” he said.
World War II veteran James Farr, who lives in Union, served in the Army after being drafted in 1943 and was stationed in England before the Invasion of Normandy. Farr, 90, said he was shot in the helmet during the invasion and remembers the war vividly.
The flights were designed for veterans, such as Farr, to experience the memorial. Farr said he would enjoy the trip, specifically to see the memorial and hopes his health improves enough to take a flight someday.
“I think it’s great what they’re doing, I wish I could go,” Farr said. “Right now, I don’t see how, but maybe later.”
David Fudge, a commander of the Spartanburg Warbirds, said news of the flight is exciting and a great way to honor the “greatest of the great, a wonderful generation.”
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