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Air Force Veteran, Jim Chartrand
Air Force Veteran, Jim Chartrand
By Nikki Mitchell
“The honor flight was closure. It was unbelievable,” Jim Chartrand, a local U.S. Air Force veteran said about his recent trip to Washington D.C. on the U.P. Honor Flight.
Chartrand flew out on Flight 46 out of Wausau, Wisconsin with his daughter as his guardian. He said at 4:30 a.m., there were roughly 200 people waiting to send them off. When they arrived in D.C., there were at least 300-400 people cheering and thanking the veterans. When they returned to Wausau that night, there were many people there as well.
“Little kids, bikers, etc. all waited for us and congratulated us for being in the service. We weren’t treated very well when we were in the service. It was an honor to be on the flight.
During the trip, the veterans and their guardians visited memorials and were escorted by local police. Of the memorials,
Chartrand said he was most surprised by the Vietnam and Korean walls.
“I didn’t realize there were that many people.”
He also said that the changing of the guard was an incredible experience.
“I could not do what that guy did. It’s perfectly quiet there. He didn’t even flinch. And if someone made noise, you’d be told to be quiet and if not, escorted out.”
Everything on the trip is free for the veterans and this flight cost roughly $70,000, but had been sponsored by an archery company. He said that even the motel bar that evening was open to the veterans at no cost.
Chartrand had applied for the trip five years ago, and said he encourages every veteran to apply.
“You’ll get closure by going,” he said. “There are some veterans that say they have been to D.C. so they don’t need to go. But they haven’t been there like this. It’s an experience you can’t truly explain.
One of the most memorable parts of the trip happened while on the plane, he said. The veterans received mail call and were each given an envelope with letters from friends, family, and complete strangers.
“I received a letter from a kid across the country. There wasn’t a dry eye on that plane after mail call,” he said.
He said the entire experience was incredible.
“The way they treat you with honor—you have to experience it to believe it.” (Submitted photos)