Honor Flight of the Ozarks – local veteran takes Honor Flight May 29th

The mission of Honor Flight is to celebrate America’s veterans by inviting them to share in a day of honor at our nation’s memorials. This is Honor Flights way to allow many veterans an opportunity to participate in One Final Mission—A Mission of HONOR

Each Honor Flight mission cost more than $150,000.00.  Donations are tax deductible.

Your donations to Honor Flight of the Ozarks made this story possible.

Former Air Force Reservist Mike Lehan of Bolivar, recently went on his Honor Flight to the nation’s capital.  When Lehan returned to the Springfield airport, the welcome home was something he would never forget.  

“The most memorable had to be when we flew back and landed back in Springfield about 9 or 9:15, and we all gathered after we disembarked the plane and they lined all of those in wheelchairs up first along with those of us who could walk. 

Then a gentleman who was 99 years old and had fought at Normandy in World War II, he wasn’t on the flight but he was there when the flight got back.  He led us and there were close to 700 to 800 people waiting for us along with bands playing military salutes and the National Anthem.  

And all the people that were there to greet us when we came back was just something that really touched me.  

I’ll never forget.”

Lehan served during the Vietnam war.  

You can hear the full interview with Mike Lehan Thursday afternoon between 4:00 and 6:00 PM.

The Honor Flight of the Ozarks Radiothon can be heard Thursday, June 27th starting at 6:00 AM and running until 6:00 PM on all Joplin Zimmer stations.  Donations can be made by texting the word “Honor” to 417-782-1310 or by clicking the link on our web page.