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BEACON
THE Airman shares Honor Flight with grandfather
Volume 80, Number 28
by Senior Airman Kevin Mitterholzer
452 AMW Public Affairs 452 AMW public affairs
14560 2nd Street, Bldg. 2640
0DUFK$5%&$ The Honor Flight, a great way to honor Courtesy photo
DPZSDZRUNÀRZ#XVDIPLO veterans for the sacrifice and service they
made many years ago, is an opportunity Capt. Malia Hoffmann and her grandfather, Oscar Hoffmann, a WWII veteran, prepare
ID[ to take them to visit Washington, D.C. war WRGHSDUWIRU:DVKLQJWRQ'&RQDQ+RQRU)OLJKW7KH+RIIPDQQVWUDYHOHGZLWKDS
SKRQH memorials and spend the day with them, proximately 84 other veterans and their dependents to visit the war memorials while
reflecting on their past achievements and bonding with each other.
COMMANDER learning about their military history.
Col. Russell Muncy “I think the best part of the whole ex- walked up to him and said, ‘Thank you
For Capt. Malia M. Hoffmann, logistics perience for both of us was when we came for your service. What branch were
38%/,&$))$,562)),&(5 readiness officer, 56th Aerial Port Squad- back to Wisconsin. They had a welcome you in?’ My grandpa was really taken
Capt. Perry Covington ron, March Air Reserve Base, this was the home after we got off the aircraft and all aback by that. It was really cool to see
perfect chance to bond with her grandfa- the local people lined the airport,” she the generational difference.”
EDITOR ther, Oscar Hoffmann, over his World War said. “They had boy scouts, girl scouts,
Ms. Linda Welz II memories. and people with signs. I think there were According to Capt. Hoffmann, those
about 1,500 people there. Then they had in charge of the Honor Flight program
$0:(',725,$/67$)) “I just really felt like this was a once- all the vets march through the crowd with stated the reason they do this is to give
Master Sgt. Megan Crusher in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Capt. Hoff- people cheering. I looked at my grandpa back to the Veterans who didn’t get a wel-
Staff Sgt. Tiffany Lindemann mann. “He’s getting up there in age and he while it was happening and I could see come back, in a time when supporting our
doesn’t have much time left. The fact that him tearing up.” troops wasn’t popular.
Senior Airman Russell McMillan he and I share the military experience, that
Senior Airman Joseph Dangidang history together, is really special to me.” She said the trip is something that Capt. Hoffmann said the application
Senior Airman Kevin Mitterholzer everyone should experience, given the process for the Honor Flight is definitely
The Honor Flight took off from Wiscon- opportunity. worth it. All you have to do is visit http://
The Beacon is published by sin, which is where Capt. Hoffmann grew www.oldgloryhonorflight.org and submit a
Aerotech News and Review. Aero up, at around 6 a.m. with roughly 84 veter- Another moment while there really completed application or contact them at
WHFKLVDSULYDWH¿UPLQQRZD\FRQ ans and their dependents. After arriving in meant a lot to her and her grandfather. 888-635-9838.
QHFWHGZLWKWKH86$LU)RUFHXQ the nation’s capital, they boarded a bus to
der exclusive written contract with visit the memorials and other sites the city “There was a young man, probably “I get chills talking about it,” she said.
the 452nd Air Mobility Wing. This has to offer. 12 years old, at the World War II me- “It was a really special experience. It’s
FLYLOLDQHQWHUSULVH$LU)RUFHQHZV morial,” said Capt. Hoffmann. “He was kind of hard to put into words what it
paper is an authorized publication “Our first stop was the World War II taking a picture of my grandpa, and meant to us.”
for employees and members of Memorial. All the vets got a group picture
U.S. military services, retirees and in front of the fountain there,” Capt. Hoff-
family members. Contents are not mann said.
QHFHVVDULO\ WKH RI¿FLDO YLHZV RI
or endorsed by, the U.S. Govern Other stops included the Korean
ment, the Department of Defense War Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial
RUWKH'HSDUWPHQWRIWKH$LU)RUFH Wall and the Air Force Memorial, Capt.
Hoffman said.
The appearance of advertis
ing in this newspaper, including “They’ve really done a nice job making
inserts or supplements, does not these memorials,” Oscar Hoffmann said.
constitute endorsement of the “They are very impressive.”
products or services by the De
partment of Defense, the Depart At Arlington they observed the chang-
PHQWRIWKH$LU)RUFHRU$HURWHFK ing of the guard and walked through the fi-
News and Review, Inc. nal resting place for those who have served.

Everything advertised in this “There is just so much land here, as far
newspaper shall be made avail as the eye can see, and it is filled with Sol-
DEOHIRUSXUFKDVHXVHRUSDWURQ diers,” Oscar Hoffmann said.
age without regard to race, color,
religion, sex, national origin, age, Sharing the experience with her grand-
marital status, physical handicap, father, who enlisted in the Navy during
SROLWLFDO DI¿OLDWLRQ RU DQ\ RWKHU World War II, created life-long memories.
QRQPHULWIDFWRURIWKHSXUFKDVHU Capt. Hoffmann, a prior-enlisted veteran of
user or patron. 13 years, cites her grandfather’s service as
one of the reasons she joined the military.
Editorial content is edited, pre
pared and provided by the staff “When I was a little kid I remember al-
of the 452nd Air Mobility Wing ways looking at his old Navy stuff, like his
3XEOLF$IIDLUV RI¿FH DW 0DUFK$LU dog tags and his uniforms. I always wanted
Reserve Base. All photographs his pea coat when I was little,” said Capt.
LQWKH%HDFRQDUH$LU)RUFHSKR Hoffmann. “He was kind of protective of
WRV XQOHVV RWKHUZLVH VWDWHG )RU that stuff. I just sort of admired that in him
advertising, contact Aerotech di and I thought it was a really cool thing to
UHFWO\DW do for your country.”

Aerotech News and Review The Honor Flight was a really
(DVW$YH.6XLWH unique opportunity for Capt. Hoffmann
/DQFDVWHU&$ and her grandfather to spend an entire
www.aerotechnews.com day together without anyone else in the
family around.