OTTAWA, OH (WLIO) - The community of Ottawa is supporting an organization that takes our local veterans on a trip of a lifetime.
Every year, the Sons of the American Legion partners with Ottawa Ordinance Firearms and Accessories for a gun raffle to benefit Flag City Honor Flight. Three guns were up for grabs, and the names of the winners were drawn by one of the veterans that will be flown to Washington, D.C.
Flag City Honor Flight makes four trips a year, and the veterans don't have to pay anything at all to go. The visit is very emotional and, in many cases, helps them heal and make peace with everything they've been through while serving the country.
"The Vietnam veterans, especially, when they came home, it was not a nice welcome home for them; they were not well received. So for them, this is something we can give them that welcome home, and we can give them that healing. You take them to the wall; they can find their friends and comrades names on the wall," explained Allison Quinlan, the vice president and flight director for Flag City Honor Flight.
This year, the raffle raised $8,000 to donate to the cause. It takes around $100,000 to pay for each flight, but there's always people ready to help fund them.
"Putnam County is very supportive of their military and their veterans, servicemen both active and inactive, and also the POWs involved as well, those that paid the ultimate sacrifice. Very supportive, very patriotic community," said Jack Fought, the commander of the Sons of the American Legion Squadron #63.
The first honor flight of 2024 will depart on Tuesday, April 23rd. Each year, the Flag City Honor Flight takes around 360 veterans to Washington, D.C.
