“Wonderful” is the word two senior veterans used to describe flying in 1940s planes.
At the annual Spirit of ‘45 celebration at Aurora State Airport on Wednesday, Aug. 14, senior veterans rode in small planes used for military training in the 1940s. And for the first time this year, veterans under 65 years old flew as well.
Spirit of ‘45 Day is a national holiday honoring those in the World War II generation and celebrations are held across the country in the second week of August — coinciding with Aug. 14, the day Japan surrendered to the Allied Forces in 1945, effectively ending the war.
Johannah Senn, executive director of the Vital Life Foundation, which organizes the Aurora Airport event each year, said the holiday originally supported and celebrated veterans from World War II but has evolved to celebrate all veterans.
The foundation is a nonprofit organization for Marquis Companies that works to bring “meaning and purpose” to seniors and senior health care workers, Senn said. She described seniors as vulnerable and sometimes forgotten.
“Especially our older veterans in particular, they’re very very humble, so they’re not (a) group of people that are bringing attention to themselves and the service that they’ve done,” Senn said. “So this is really an opportunity for us to acknowledge their service and give them an experience that they will not forget.”
Although the flights are for veterans, the event is open to the broader community. This year the program included a red carpet entrance for senior veterans, a speaker from the National Guard and live music. Senn said around 350 people attended this year, which mirrors attendance numbers from before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Vital Life Foundation partners with nonprofit organization Dream Flights, which gives senior veterans the opportunity to fly in small planes that its president, founder and pilot Darryl Fisher, said were used for flight training in the 1940s. Fisher thinks allowing for some younger veterans to fly as well was “a real big hit” and will likely be done again in the future.
Fisher believes the flight resonates with younger and older veterans alike.
“It just connects them with their service, and with the history I think it allows people to kind of resolve some unfinished business sometimes,” Fisher said.
One of the senior veterans who got to fly was Heather McNeil, an 83-year-old military nurse whose career in the armed forces spanned 30 years. She has a pilot’s license, but said she has never flown in an open plane before. McNeil described her flight as “wonderful.”
“Just to be able to get up there and see where we live is beautiful. It’s just gorgeous up there,” McNeil said.
Senior veteran Douglas Barman, who was a machine gunner in World War II and, according to his autobiography “As I Recall,” had a professional career as a geophysicist, echoed McNeil in calling the flight wonderful and enjoying the scenery. He also complimented the pilot’s skills and emphasized the kindness of attendees.
Both McNeil and Barman said the event made them feel appreciated as veterans.
“I think (the event) brings up stories for people who put their life on the line. And I think it’s wonderful to see (people) here and makes you feel good to think you gave up your life,” Barman said.
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