The Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) partnered with Dream Flights to provide local veterans living in long-term care facilities the opportunity to fly in WWII-era, open-cockpit biplanes. The event took place at Million Air FBO in Tallahassee, where veteran residents, their families, and staff from several care centers gathered for the experience.
“These Veterans who took to the skies are the model of service to the country,” said Emmett Reed, Florida Health Care Association CEO. “FHCA and our member centers are focused on enriching the lives of the residents entrusted to our care, and it’s our honor to provide this unforgettable experience to these brave men and women. We’re thrilled to partner with Dream Flights to make this memorable experience possible for them.”
Among those honored were Sylvester Jackson (69), U.S. Army veteran from PruittHealth Southwood in Tallahassee; Ralph Yeager (92), U.S. Air Force veteran from Robert H. Jenkins Jr. Veterans Domiciliary in Lake City; Janet DiSilva (90), U.S. Army veteran also from Robert H. Jenkins Jr. Veterans Domiciliary; William Thomas “Tommy” Cook, Sr. (83), U.S. Army veteran from Blountstown Health and Rehabilitation Center; Robin Hasting (70), U.S. Army veteran from RiverChase Health and Rehabilitation Center in Quincy; Earl Jones (70), U.S. Army veteran from Miracle Hill Nursing and Rehabilitation in Tallahassee; and Kelvin Pittman (65), U.S. Army veteran also from Miracle Hill Nursing and Rehabilitation.
During the event, each participating veteran received a Florida Health Care Association challenge coin, a veterans service medal presented by the Florida Veterans Foundation, as well as recognition from the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
The FHCA sponsored this initiative as a gesture of appreciation for veterans ahead of Veterans Day, allowing participants to fly at 1,000 feet altitude in planes that once trained aviators during World War II.
