Tag Archives: Veterans Voices

Veterans Voices: Dream Flight

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NEOSHO, Mo. — One organization is helping make lasting memories for hundreds of Veterans around the country.

This morning, it got the chance to give three local men a ride they’ll never forget.

“We want this to be the best day of the rest of their lives, and for a lot of them it is,” said Jeff Klosky, Dream Flight Pilot.

Jeff Klosky is a “Dream Flights” pilot; a volunteer-based organization that takes our country’s Veterans on open cock pit flights as a special way to say thank you.

On Saturday, he took three Veterans from “Gran Villas Residential Care” up into the morning sky.

“It’s very powerful. It means a lot to them. Since we’ve talked about Dream Flight, we talked about their service and their stories are so interesting and what they gave our country is just amazing. We appreciate them greatly and that our country appreciates them greatly,” said Carman Williams, Operator, of Gran Villas Residential Care.

Jeff Klosky is a United States Veteran himself. Saturday’s Dream Flight marked more than 90 flights for him.
The organization alone has held nearly 600 flights just this year.

“Seeing the smiles on faces of our elderly Veterans, we don’t get paid in cash, but we get paid in those smiles. And so, it’s very addictive. It just brings a lot of joy, knowing that you’re bringing joy to somebody else,” said Klosky.

“I think they’d done something that’s good, something that can’t be taken away. It’ll be stuck with me for a long, long time,” said Lloyd Tanner, United States Navy Veteran.

“It was tremendous. Great time to be alive,” said Ron Lacy, United States Navy Veteran.

All three Veterans received a “Dream Flight” hat, signed by Klosky.

“Being able to do something for them, who willingly gave up everything without really asking any questions and they just did it. And so, to be able to connect with them on that is just, it’s so rewarding,” said Klosky.

Veterans Voices: Honored after making the ultimate sacrifice

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ANDERSON, Mo. — A young soldier, killed in action, just at the beginning of his military career.

This year, the McDonald County High School graduate is given a special honor by his hometown, for his ultimate sacrifice.

“Decided, you know what, maybe I owe the young man something so, I decided to dedicate my bike to him,” said Ray Villa, Patriot Guard Riders of Southwest Missouri.

It’s a ceremony that Patriot Guard rider Ray Villa has participated in for several years…

“We’re here just to honor Chris, and support the ROTC program because they’re the future,” said Villa.

But this year is extra special.

“To the community, he was a great student, a great leader, and he was just a really, really great person,” said Major Mya Burton, MCHS JROTC.

Every year, a remebrance ceremony is held for McDonald County High School graduate Chris Marion.

It’s usually a small ceremony, but, this year, all of McDonald County High School was on hand.

“Chris was one of the kids that was fantastic. We didn’t have trouble with him. He didn’t get in trouble. He was ornery… he was ornery,” said Walter Wood, Chris’s Stepfather,

Private First Class Christopher Lee Marion was just 20 years old in 2006, and enlisted for only seven months, when he gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

“I was very proud,” said Walter.

“Still am,” said Velma Wood, Chris’s mother.

“Oh yes, yes. And still miss him just as much,” added Walter.

State representative Dirk Deaton worked to honor Marion’s legacy.

Missouri Senate Bill 258 was signed into law by Governor Mike Parson last year to rename a portion of US Business 71 in McDonald County as the “Army Private First Class Christopher Lee Marion Memorial Highway.”

“There are a lot of people that have fallen in war. And Chris Marion was one of our only fallen students. And, we wanted to honor him and make sure we never forget him,” said Burton.

“Well it just kind of blows our mind how much he’s loved and the honors that he gets. It’s fantastic,” said Walter.

Making sure the hometown fallen hero is never forgotten.

“I want them to remember that he gave the sacrifice and know that,” added Walter.

“His honesty,” said Velma.

“He was very honest and he loved the good Lord. And, he loved military. That was his life,” said Walter.

Honoring a Veteran, 130 years later

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JOPLIN, Mo. — After 130 years, a Civil War Union Veteran has officially been laid to rest with military honors and a new head stone.

Civil War Union Soldier, Littleton J. Perry, was laid to rest at the “Peace Church Cemetery” in Joplin, in the year 1892. Perry served in “Company C” of Missouri’s 44th Infantry Regiment.

Unfortunately though, Perry was buried without any government markings or military honors.

“This area had, Civil War, both Union and Confederate come through here. Rader’s Farm is just north of us. And that’s where the Unions and Confederates met for a battle and a lot were killed. Some of the soldiers are buried here in unmarked graves,” said Jim Beeler, Caretaker, Peace Church Cemetery.

Perry was buried next to his sister, Stella, who passed away at 10 years old. Because his sister’s grave was marked, cemetery staff were finally able to locate Perry.

Cemetery staff have been working for the past three years to identify 26 Veterans in the cemetery, who also have unmarked graves.

“We’ve helped them identify some of the Veterans, because he’ll give us names and we can run it through the Veterans Administration and truly identify if they were a solider, either a Union or Confederate during the Civil War, because the records are fairly thorough for both to be able to find what units they served with and that type of thing,” said Bob Harrington, Commander, Joplin American Legion Post 13.

Thanks to the joint effort by the cemetery’s staff, the Joplin “American Legion Post 13” and the “Veterans Affairs”, a commemoration ceremony was held on Saturday to honor and remember Perry’s sacrifice to his country.

“They’ll either give you a bronze plaque that has your name, rank and years of service on it. Or, they’ll actually do a stone for you, either one. In this case, it’s actually a grave stone that we’re providing, that they provided for him,” said Harrington.

The service included a 21-Gun Salute, a flag presentation and the playing of taps. Finally, Perry’s brand-new headstone was revealed, right next to his sister’s.

“We just want to recognize not only those that have stones, but those that we don’t know who they are and, we just want to give them the recognition that they’re due,” said Beeler.

“This person served their country and they deserve the honor of being recognized for doing that,” said Harrington.

A space for our Veterans, at Pittsburg State University

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PITTSBURG, Kans. — Service in the armed forces can help boost the college experience for some students, and at Pitt State University, there’s a new benefit for members of the military.

Pitt State student Mason Harmon has a very busy schedule. Harmon is working on a degree in the diesel and heavy equipment automotive program, and also, he’s in the military.

“Right now in the Kansas Army National Guard,” said Mason Harmon, KS National Guard.

It helps to pay for college, and gives him a quiet space to study.

“The Veterans Resource lounge at the Kansas Technology Center,” said Harmon.

Space set aside, exclusively for Veterans and current service members.

“I find myself in the resource lounge for Veterans almost daily. I like come here for my class, kind of do some homework study, prepare myself for the day,” said Harmon.

It gives him access to computers and a free printer. There’s a small kitchen and information posted specifically for vets.

The center gives students with similar experiences a change to interact, or enjoy time away from a busy campus.

“It’s quiet. There’s a library here but it can get kind of noisy sometimes with printers and people on computers at most times. I see three people in here at most, which is fine, and I know most of them are all Veterans. So I have great conversations in here,” said Mason Harmon, KS National Guard.

This is the second Veterans’ resources center at PSU, a recent addition in the Kansas Technology Center.

The first, in Whitesitt, has been open about five years. It’s popularity and the size of the campus prompted the expansion.

“Probably 20% of my people that use VA benefits are technology majors. And so if they are, almost all of the classes are out there. It’s very hard for them to get to main campus to print off a sheet of paper to get back to class,” said Robin Stricklin, PSU Certifying Officer.

A grant of about $10,000 helped to fix that, along with some funding on campus.

“Look what they gave up for us. So we want to do what we can for them. I have a tiny budget, but I’m willing to spend it on them,” said Stricklin

And that is something Mason Harmon greatly appreciates.

“I’m very proud of the university for doing something like this and I hope more campuses follow this path,” said Harmon.