On the recordMay 12, 2014
Mr. President, over the past 2 years, the Big Sky Honor Flight has transported 755 World War II veterans to their memorial in Washington, DC. Before these trips, most of the veterans had never seen the memorial that was built in their honor. Our World War II veterans sacrificed so much for our country, often deploying for as long as 4 years, and then returned home to build the great country we have today. They truly are the greatest generation. The Big Sky Honor Flight started out as a powerful idea to honor Montana's veterans, but getting 755 veterans, their caregivers, and medical staff across the country and back is no easy task. Today I want to recognize the selfless servants who made the Big Sky Honor Flight a reality. The Big Sky Honor Flight Committee works tirelessly on behalf of our veterans. Their mission was to make sure every World War II veteran from Montana had the opportunity to visit our Nation's capital and see how grateful we are for their service. Today, as the ninth and final flight leaves Washington, DC, for Billings, MT, we are proud to say: mission accomplished. The Big Sky Honor Flight Committee successfully raised $1.45 million from Montanans to charter nine flights transporting the veterans to Washington, DC. The committee's dedication to bringing the veterans to see their monument was no easy task.…





