On Friday, May 24th, a group of veterans and families of the fallen will get an early wake-up call. Patriotic Productions is again taking flight to Washington D.C. to view our nation’s monuments and memorials.
Organizer Bill Williams tells NewsRadio 1110 KFAB, "This is the Nebraska Purple Heart Flight. It is Purple Heart recipients from the Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan. We are also taking some Korean, Vietnam and female veterans who missed their flight. We have parents from Iowa and Nebraska whose sons are laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. We also have 50 or so Gold Star children and their mothers of the fallen from Iraq and Afghanistan. It is a little different than what we have done in the past."
Williams says this will be a very special flight for the Gold Star families as Patriotic Production's Remembering Our Fallen tribute towers will be on display next to the Reflecting Pool on the flight date. He says those families will have a chance to see their loved ones remembered in our nation’s capital.
Here is where you come in. Everyone is welcome to make signs, bring flags and get ready to welcome home the veterans that evening. Once they land at Eppley Airfield, they will board Ollie the Trolley to attend a parade in downtown Omaha on 10th Street from Jackson to the Durham Museum. There, the veterans will be welcomed by family and friends. Williams says, "There will be classic cars, bag pipers, horses and motorcycles. The Woodmen Tower will be lit purple. Up to the Durham and the veterans will walk through the crowd. There will be food trucks, music and we think it will be very unique and very special. We are excited to try something different with this homecoming."
The parade start time is estimated at 9 p.m. People are invited to bring a picnic and tailgate while you make your signs and wait for the homecoming.
The veterans are also treated to a pre-flight dinner on May 23rd. There are still tickets available for the public to attend. It will be held at the La vista Convention Center. The guest speaker is comedian Bobby Henline, who was wounded by an IED in 2007 that killed four of his comrades in Iraq.
For more information on the homecoming or to get tickets to the banquet, click here