Dream Flights takes senior veterans to the sky for free lifetime experiences
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)—Dream Flights is a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of America's senior veterans through a life-changing flight.
In a 15-minute flight, veterans as young as 105 years old experience the freedom and exhilaration of being 1,000 feet in the sky in an open-cockpit biplane.
'Communication is difficult in this open-cockpit airplane, but we are able to see each other through a little mirror underneath the wing so a lot of the times I can see their emotions and I live for that,' said Hunter Stuckey, volunteer pilot with Dream Flights. Stuckey has been with the organization for five years.
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Prior to the flights, all veterans from nursing and rehabilitation centers were recognized with certificates.
Facilities participating in this event included Garden Park Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cypress Point Nursing and Rehabilitation, Roseview Nursing and Rehabilitation, Magnolia Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation, Southern Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation, and Harmony House Nursing and Rehabilitation.
Jennifer Peters, Administrator for Garden Park Nursing and Rehabilition Center said, 'for many of them, it did trigger stories, but to include their families now, see them get recognized for their service, and to fly over the city and get that view, I mean it's exhilarating not one of them has not got off the plane saying how much they loved it.'
For the senior veterans who wanted to fly, Byrd High School JROTC honored them while they walked to salutes.
Stuckey, Dream Flights Crew Chief Jenny Garza, and major sponsors helped each veteran on and off the plane, ensuring safety as some veterans used wheelchairs. Heather Ainsworth, Area Manager for SportClips, has been working with the nonprofit for seven years. She says the experience is emotional and rewarding.
More Veterans' stories
'My first one was actually here at this airport. And that one was a little emotional, it makes me a little emotional now because my grandfather actually served so and he's not here anymore so you know, you get the see the families bond together and be able to support you know the people who have served whether it was World War II or whether it's now,' said Ainsworth.
Dream Flights says the program 'closes the generation gap and opens us up to a clearer understanding of ourselves and our world.'
After a flight with one of the veterans, Stuckey said, 'Truman here was a helicopter mechanic back in the day and so he is very interested in aviation and had just a blast in the airplane. He said he didn't have much experience with fixed wing aircraft, so he was really looking forward to this flight, and he had so much fun. I was watching him in the mirror, and he was all smiles.'
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