Banquet and Welcome Home Reception

Sanford Event Barn hosted the Honors Flight Banquet for the veterans and their guardians. (Each veteran and guardian could bring a guest.)

The trailer is used to transport items (post cards, caps, shirts, pins, coins, Christmas ornaments, etc.) for sale. The for-sale items are one of the fundraisers to help support the Honor Flight program. The trailer also brought 168 T-shirts and lightweight pull-overs for the veterans and their guardians. 

three-course meal with delicious cheesecake for dessert

Karl and Curt

Curt with the two guests

82 of the 83 veterans were present and answered to roll call. Five branches of service were represented: Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, and 1 from the Coast Guard.

I mentioned in yesterday's post that every veteran had to have a guardian in attendance on the flight. At our table we met Don (the veteran) and his wife who have three children. None of the children were able to accompany Don for the flight to Washington DC for the day. His guardian, Arlene and her husband, were also at the table. They had met earlier that day at the hotel. They did not know each other prior to last Monday. Arlene volunteered to be an Honor Flight guardian because of her nursing and health care background and because of her strong belief in the mission of the Honor Flight Program. 

The concourse of the Sioux Falls airport hosted the Welcome Home Reception on Tuesday evening.

last minute sign making

family members and friends gathered for the reception

some of the crowd waiting

Curt's signs

I was so proud of our two grands. They shook hands and talked to every veteran who passed, thanking them for their service.

the flag line at the bottom of the escalator & stairs

The Patriot Guard Riders were invited to stand flag line for the “Gary & Connie Grittner Foundation” Midwest Honor Flight, Mission 27. A bagpipe troupe was also present. In the background you can see guardians and veterans in wheelchairs, as they were the first to deplane.

I know some of the veterans did not receive the kind of Welcome Home Curt and the 1742nd National Guard unit received on May 22, 1991 when they returned from active duty in Desert Storm. The city had a parade. His staff and students had a program at school. And our families gathered that weekend for our daughter's high school graduation. An emotional time in May 1991 and an emotional one in September 2025.

and finally from the back of the plane...

grandson is getting a hug

some of the signs thanking the service members

three generations gathered for this veteran

Thank you to Tommy Biehl for your donation from this year's River City Truck Fest! $5,300 was raised from the event to send 5 Veterans on a future flight! The 2025 River City Truck Fest took place Saturday, September 20 in Platte. Pictured are 3 Veterans from Platte who recently flew on Mission 27 along with Tommy presenting the check at our Welcome Home.

Aaron Van Beek (in the red shirt) is the president and CEO of Midwest Honor Flight. Aaron is a history teacher in NW Iowa and is responsible for organizing all 27 missions from South Dakota. The Honor Flight Program is possible because of private donations such as this one. Veterans from SW Minnesota, NW Iowa, NE Nebraska and South Dakota are eligible for the Honor Flight Program. Application forms are on the website I mentioned in the previous blog post.