Stars and Stripes Honor Flights expand eligibility for Cold and Gulf War veterans
Stars and Stripes Honor Flight MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Ahead of Veterans Day, it was announced more of those who served can now apply to participate in the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight. Eligibility was just expanded to include veterans from the Cold and Gulf War who served through July 31, 1991.
Since the organization started, over 90 flights have taken over 11,000 veterans on a free trip to Washington D.C. to see the monuments in their honor.
"It's about honoring veterans as a way to heal and about honoring a community," shared Christy Schultz, a U.S. army veteran from the Gulf War, now eligible to fly in the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight. Though, she described the opportunity as conflicting.
"It is incredibly hard for me to accept thanks and celebrate my service knowing other warriors returned home scathed or not at all," said Schultz. "But on the other side of that conflict coin is joy, humility and the realization I did this thing with my warrior brothers and sisters, it is noble and it deserves to be celebrated."
The announcement comes as a new monument was just unveiled at the National Mall last month, for the 700,000 men and women who served in the Gulf War from 1990-91.
The new monument in honor of Gulf War veterans
The new monument in honor of Gulf War veterans
Stars and Stripes Honor Flight Board President Seve Vasatko shared especially for Cold War veterans, "much of that work took place far from home and out of the public view. Which makes it all the more important to recognize it today."
If you, or someone you know, is a veteran who wants to apply, you can do so now through this link.
Priority will still be given to older veterans from World War II, Vietnam, and Korea.
Other veterans who spoke during Monday's press conference included Retired Lieutenant Colonel James D. McLain, U.S. Army, executive director, Milwaukee VA Medical Center, David Surges, Korean War, U.S. Air Force; Alvin Flowers Vietnam, U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran; Stew Nagao, Vietnam, U.S. Navy; Peter Ritz, Desert Storm Marine Corps veteran.
