February 7, 2012

 

Contacts:
Dan Carter, University Relations, 657-2269

 

Veterans, community volunteers on hand to raise awareness, funds for cause

 

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES — Thursday night’s basketball game between the Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets men’s basketball team and Central Washington will take a patriotic when some World War II veterans are on hand to raise awareness for Big Sky Honor Flight – Montana.

""Big Sky Honor Flight is a statewide non-profit, volunteer enterprise with a mission to recognize American World War II veterans for their sacrifices and achievements by flying them to Washington, D.C., to see their memorial at no cost.  The group is now in the process of raising funds to help send a group of Montana veterans to Washington this year.

Tipoff is at 7 p.m. at Alterowitz Gym and some local World War II veterans and Big Sky Honor Flight volunteers will be on hand before the game to help provide information and sell 50/50 tickets.

 

On a national level, Honor Flight was conceived by Earl Morse, a physician assistant and retired Air Force captain, as a tribute to the veterans to whom he provided care. In May 2005, Morse arranged for six small planes to transport 12 World War II veterans to Washington D.C., to see their memorial. By the end of the first year Honor Flight had transported 137 World War II veterans to see their memorial. By the end of 2011, the Honor Flight Network will have flown 63,000 World War II veterans to see their memorial.

 

To find out more about the program, the application process and to contribute, go to http://bigskyhonorflight.org/indexx.html or call 690-4613.