HomeMy WebLinkAboutHonor Flight LtrBend Heroes Foundation
1900 NE 3rd St., Suite 106 #205
Bend, OR 97701
December 11, 2013
Deschutes Board of County Commissioners
1300 NW Wall St. Suite 200
Bend, OR 97701
Dear Commissioners Baney, DeBone and Unger.
During the last three years as two of 147 hubs in the national Honor Flight Network,
Bend Heroes Foundation has honored 307 WWII Veterans from 22 Oregon counties
with free 4 day trips to Washington, DC visiting the national WWII Memorial and 10
other veterans’ memorials. One hundred (100), or 33% of these WWII Heroes live in
Deschutes County. Sadly, four of them passed away during the last 30 days. At their
memorial services, the Honor Flight memorabilia we presented to them during their “trip
of a lifetime” was on prominent display, meaning we have fulfilled their dreams.
We have been successful raising funds to pay their expenses - $1,200 each - because
patriots in our community care about the service and sacrifice of the Greatest
Generation, defeating tyranny around the world seven decades ago . Our final cost per
veteran is reduced to $500 due to generous in-kind donations by Southwest Airlines and
Shilo Inns.
We plan to honor 100 more WWII Veterans during two trips in 2014.There are ten
Deschutes County WWII Veterans on our current waiting list. It would be a great honor
if the Commission sponsored some or all of them at $500 each.
Through Honor Flight we have paid tribute to 9% of the estimated 1,127 WWII veterans
living in Deschutes County. The VA estimates we will lose 161 of them in 2014. Our
goal is to honor at least 10 more WWII Heroes from Deschutes County in 2014.
Thank you for inviting Bend Heroes Foundation to update the Commission on our Honor
Flight program at your December 16 meeting. Bend Heroes Foundation and WWII
Veterans are deeply appreciative of the Board’s continued support. We are a 501(c)(3)
non-profit entity (Tax ID 27-2071808).
Respectfully,
Dick Tobiason
LTC US Army Retired
Chairman, Bend Heroes Foundation
Honor Flight of Eastern Oregon
Honor Flight of Portland Oregon
www.bendheroes.org 541.388.5591