Veterans soar through skies in Pineville in restored WWII bi-plane
Barbara Waller, 81, felt free as she soared through the skies over Pineville in a restored World War II open cockpit Stearman bi-plane.
Waller, a resident at Autumn Leaves Nursing Home & Rehabilitation Center, LLC in Winnfield, was among 5 veterans from local nursing homes who were given the opportunity of a lifetime to fly in the iconic plane courtesy of the non-profit Dream Flights on Wednesday.
“I saw everything,” said Waller, a Woman’s Army Corps who served from 1963-68. “I loved it. I could see the houses from there. I don’t know how far off they were but quite a distance, I’m sure. You could see the town and stuff that you can’t see from here.”
The 20-minute flights were made possible by Dream Flights and Central Management Company at Esler Field. CMC partnered with Dream Flights to offer rides on the plane to veterans at the nursing homes they own. CMC owns Naomi Heights Nursing & Rehabilitation Center and Hilltop Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, but the flights were also open to veterans at other nursing homes in the area.
“We’re so thrilled to have Dream Flights back,” said Jamie Shelton, CMC chief operating officer.
CMC’s owner Teddy Price found out about the program at a healthcare conference and wanted to bring it here, said Shelton. The program gives veterans and seniors a chance to get out and enjoy an adventure.
“This is our second year to be a part of this organization. Our mission is to always improve the quality of life for our residents and what better way to improve the quality of life than to support this program where we can honor our seniors and our veterans,” said Shelton.
“All of our aircraft are pretty much identical to the one you see over my left shoulder,” said Dream Flights pilot James Sims. “They’re all 1940s Boeing Stearmans which was the primary trainer in World War II. So, if you know a pilot from World War II, or even post-World War II, odds are they learned to fly in one of these. They are one of the most robust airplanes we fly.”
Melvin Pease, an Army veteran and Hilltop resident, said he used to be afraid of flying.
“But got used to it,” he said, since he had to travel as a serviceman. “Once you go up, you can’t be afraid of it anymore.”
Ira Campbell, a resident at Forest Haven Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Jonesboro, was a contractor who drove trucks in Vietnam in 1972-73 when he was about 19 or 20 years old.
"I really, really appreciate you coming out today," Sims told Campbell after their flight and as he was signing a Dream Flights cap for him. "It's a beautiful, beautiful afternoon. Look at all these people supporting you."
The flight was a real kick in the behind after sitting around a lot, said Campbell.
He felt great and elated while flying and is ready to do something like this again.
That sentiment was echoed by Waller. Upon landing she waved to her family and friends with some remarking that she’s going to want to do it again.
This wasn’t her first time flying and she has flown out at Esler Field before.
“One day I’m going to be flying more. That’s what I’d love to do. That's what I want to do – is learn to fly,” said Waller.
“We woudn’t have these opportunities and wouldn’t have this free country if it wasn’t for our veterans,” said Shelton.
“We appreciate our veterans and the sacrifice they made, the sacrifice their families made that they were able to do that,” said Keith Ferrington, an Army veteran and administrator of Plantation Manor Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Winnsboro.
This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Veterans soar through skies in Pineville in restored WWII bi-plane
