Watch now: Vietnam veterans ride again as Honor Flight passes Scottsbluff | Nebraska News
Five pickup trucks full of Vietnam War veterans drove through Scottsbluff as part of an honor flight Thursday. They were accompanied by bikers and cheered by a crowd of more than 100 people waving flags.
The end goal for veterans is Washington, DC, where they can visit war memorials built to honor those who fought in the nation’s wars.
Scottsbluff has hosted such Honor Flight convoys before. For the past decade they have stopped at the local Elks Lodge for a memorial lunch.
Steve Thomlison, a hotheaded former leader of the Elks Lodge, organizes the events. This year, he worked with volunteers from Nebraska and Colorado, as well as ride captains for each leg of the journey. He said this year’s veterans came from Scottsbluff, Gering, Alliance, Chadron and Marsland.
Local first responders, veterans and students were among those who supported local members of the Honor Flight as they stopped in Scottsbluff en route to catch a plane to Washington, D.C., to see the war memorials .
CHRISTOPHER BORRO/Star-Herald
They travel south through the Panhandle, northeast into Colorado, and west to Denver. In several towns along the way, cheering crowds greet veterans and thank them for their service.
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The veterans flew out of Denver International Airport on Friday, then meet in Washington for the weekend. Sometimes, Thomlison said, the group collects enough donations to hold two honor flights in a year.
In Scottsbluff, volunteers handed out 150 life-size American flags to spectators to carry and salute the veterans as they marched down 1st Avenue. Fire engines and ambulances with flashing lights and a flag draped over stretched ladders blocked the street to help mark their route.

About 150 volunteers stood outside with flags on Thursday to salute and cheer on 14 Vietnam War veterans who took part in an honor flight over the weekend.
CHRISTOPHER BORRO/Star-Herald
Bob Goldman usually helps assemble the flag lines. “It’s a lot busier than usual… Gering’s children have come to help,” he said.
He said he had attended several such events and enjoyed supporting veterans in honor of his late father-in-law, who was a member of two honor flights before his death.
Ray Rossignol, a member of the American Legion Honor Guard, salutes during a luncheon Thursday honoring veterans participating in an honor flight.
CHRISTOPHER BORRO/Star-Herald
Laura Lebruska, meanwhile, was attending the dispatch of an honor flight for the first time. She said her husband was honored at such an event this weekend and that his veteran daughter would serve as his guardian chaperone. “It’s my first time. I really enjoy it. I have a lot of friends here,” Lebruska said.
She is a member of the Mitchell Chapter of the American Legion Auxiliary. Among her fellow auxiliaries present was Denise Sinner of Morrill, whose father, brother and fiancé all served.
“Every American should do this,” Sinner said. “I think dedication, patriotism, there’s just a lot of things that just went away. To stand in the middle of the street and look both ways and see 150 flags… that’s just damn cool.
Photos: Vietnam Veterans Honor Flight
honor flight

Jack Egermier of Omaha (left), Michael Korth of Humphrey, Michigan Rep. Jack Bergman, John Trayer Jr. of Roca, John Phillips of Arnold and Alvin Korth of Lindsay saluted as they participated in a wreath laying ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in May.
MIKE THEILER, for the Journal Star
honor flight
Seward’s Mel Varner (in black cap) joins a group of Nebraska Vietnam veterans as they pose for a photo at the Lincoln Memorial with flags waving Monday in Washington, DC
MIKE THEILER, for the Journal Star
honor flight

Retired U.S. Marine Sgt. and Vietnam veteran Thomas Dawson of Lincoln stops to view the headstones at Arlington National Cemetery Monday in Washington, DC
MIKE THEILER, for the Journal Star
VIET VETS HONOR FLIGHT OF NEBRASKA
Bill Rigg of Omaha, who served on the USS Hornet in Vietnam, watches the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, May 1, 2017, in Arlington, Virginia. Three honor flights allowed more than 650 Nebraska Vietnam veterans to visit memorials and monuments in the nation’s capital for one day. MIKE THEILER For the star of the Journal
MICHEL THEILER
honor flight

Retired U.S. Army Spc. Lincoln’s Thomas Heaney touches the name of a fallen comrade, James A. Gaiser, who was killed in a mortar attack in Vietnam, during a moment at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Monday in Washington, DC
MIKE THEILER, for the Journal Star
honor flight
A Nebraska Vietnam veteran wears two American flags on his memorial polo shirt at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Monday in Washington, DC
MIKE THEILER, for the Journal Star
honor flight

Lindsay’s Ray Krings walks past the Lincoln Memorial on his way to the Vietnam Veteran Memorial on Monday in Washington, DC
MIKE THEILER, for the Journal Star
honor flight
Greenwood’s Mel Wilkison, who served with the 1st Cavalry in Vietnam, watches the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery Monday in Arlington, Virginia.
MIKE THEILER, for the Journal Star
honor flight

A group of Nebraska Vietnam veterans wave as they pose for a photo at the Lincoln Memorial on Monday in Washington, DC
MIKE THEILER, for the Journal Star
honor flight
A Nebraska Vietnam veteran wears a bracelet at Arlington National Cemetery Monday in Arlington, Virginia.
MIKE THEILER, for the Journal Star
honor flight

On Monday, a group of Vietnam War veterans from Nebraska watch the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
MIKE THEILER, for the Journal Star
honor flight
Grafton’s Carl Schaldecker placed American flags at the base of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial during an honor flight in May.
MIKE THEILER, for the Journal Star
honor flight

Lincolnites (from left) Steven Neptune (Army Sergeant), Thomas Dawson (Naval Sergeant) and Thomas Heaney (Army Specialist) share a moment at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Monday in Washington, D.C. Three honor flights were delivered over 650 Nebraska Vietnam veterans to visit memorials and monuments in the nation’s capital for one day.
MIKE THEILER, for the Lincoln Journal Star
Veterans
A group of Nebraska Vietnam veterans pose for a photo at the Lincoln Memorial with flags waving Monday in Washington, DC
MIKE THEILER, for the Journal Star
honor flight
Vietnam War veterans are greeted by thousands of supporters as they return to Lincoln Airport from honor flights to Washington, D.C.
KRISTIN STREFF, newspaper star
Vietnam Honor Flight
Thousands of supporters flocked to Lincoln Airport to greet Vietnam War veterans returning from Washington, DC, in May 2017.
Star Journal File Photo
honor flight
Vietnam War veteran Mike McConnell (left) of Lincoln thanks his comrade Paul Gerken, also of Lincoln, for his service as Monday’s honor flights return to a homecoming party at Lincoln Airport. McConnell took part in an honor flight last year.
KRISTIN STREFF, newspaper star
Honor Flight Celebration
The wives of Vietnam War veterans Joyce Rathe (left) of Tecumseh and Vicki West of Lincoln lead the escalator as they wave to supporters as they arrive at the terminal to welcome their husbands aboard honor flights during a celebration Monday at Lincoln Airport.
KRISTIN STREFF, newspaper star
Honor Flight Celebration
A parade of motorcyclists arrive at the terminal to welcome Vietnam War veterans aboard honor flights Monday at Lincoln Airport.
KRISTIN STREFF, newspaper star
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