Story County Freedom Flight begins with send-off ceremony

The second Story County Freedom Flight is Tuesday, but it began Sunday at Ames City Auditorium with a send-off ceremony honoring the veterans who will be on the flight.

This trip has been on my bucket list, Gary Evans, a Vietnam veteran from Nevada, said. Im just excited to be going.

This years participants are 31 World War II veterans, 50 Korean War veterans and 69 Vietnam veterans, including two women. All of the veterans on the flight either live in Story County now or did when they enlisted.

This means a lot because weve been there, done that, and served our country with pride, Eldon Boswell, of Nevada, said. Boswell, who served during the Korean War, said he wanted to see the monuments with this group, and that there was a sense of brotherhood in seeing them together.

On Sunday, the veterans gathered first at Iowa State University for a motorcade tour through the campus and downtown Ames. The veterans rode on buses with a motorcycle escort and were accompanied by area law enforcement officials and firefighters. The motorcade was greeted when it arrived at City Auditorium by a large crowd of friends and family members.

Highlights of the ceremony included a medley of service branch songs, a performance of God Bless America and a special presentation of an honorary high school diploma to veteran Donald Phipps.

Phipps was a member of the 2012 Freedom Flight, and received his honorary diploma through the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs Operation Recognition program. The program recognizes veterans who didnt complete their high school diplomas because of service during World War II, the Vietnam War or the Korean War. Phipps, a World War II veteran, received his honorary diploma from Boone High School.

He was then also presented with a letter of honorary acceptance to ISU, signed by ISU President Steven Leath.

Also presented at the ceremony were a Gold Star wreath and POW/MIA flag.

The Gold Star wreath, which represents soldiers who lost their lives in service, will be taken on Tuesdays trip and placed on the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, Tony Nussbaum, Sundays master of ceremonies, said.

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Story County Freedom Flight begins with send-off ceremony