ARIZONA, USA — Two honor veterans were selected for once-in-a-lifetime flights on Sunday, all thanks to a pilot from a charitable east Valley organization called Grounded No More.
The special announcement, at Mesa's Falcon Field Airport, was also a big milestone, as the organization celebrates selecting its 600th honor flight recipient.
Terrance Schroeder and Hal Bergdahl are the honored veterans and honor flight recipients.
Their flight will be in Amazing Grace, a World War II aircraft.
“It’s the 61st anniversary that I joined the Air Force, so it’s kind of a special day for me,” said Schroeder.
“I love it,” said Bergdahl.
Schroeder served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam era, and then here at home in the 161st Air Refueling Wing.
“I was a dental specialist,” he said. “I worked in the hospital and I worked in the dental clinic.”
During his time serving, he worked on a lot of wounded men.
“Yes, that were shot in the face,” said Schroeder. “Our job was to put their face back together.”
“It was just my small part of the Vietnam war,” he said. “I wasn’t there, but I helped in a small way.”
Bergdahl served in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army’s 121st Aviation Company.
“All at once they said we’re going overseas, no, that’s not going to happen,” he said. “We were put on a ship and boom… we got involved and some people didn’t like us, and so that’s why we had armor plate under the seat.”
Both Schroeder and Bergdahl remember so much from the time they served.
“Thank God for the armor plate,” said Bergdahl.
The honor flights they will be going on are all made possible by Grounded No More veteran flight lift, an organization that gives veterans and Gold Star families a unique flying experience.
“I’ve always had a love for veterans,” said Tony Anger, the pilot and president of the organization.
The mission of Grounded No More is to serve those who have served us.
“My father was in World War II,” he said. “My uncle was an Army General… I served very briefly in the DC Air National Guard.”
Anger said the honor flights provide our veterans an amazing experience.
“It changed me and it definitely changes them,” he said.
It also allows them to relive those memories they’ll never forget.
“Doing a barrel roll,” said Schroeder.
Unfortunately, they couldn’t fly out Sunday due to weather conditions, but they are already rescheduling. One veteran is looking forward to taking to the skies as soon as next weekend.
“I truly feel that God has blessed this mission,” said Anger.
Through generous donations Grounded No More can continue putting smiles on the faces of veterans. If you would like to help further their efforts, click here.
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