Flight of a Lifetime: Veterans Take To The Skies

April 26, 2023- Ft. Myers, FL Dream Flight, a national nonprofit foundation, has been providing a sense of adventure to seniors and veterans in Southwest Florida for several years, offering them a thrilling journey down memory lane.

Earlier this week, Dream Flight paid a visit to Shell Point Village, a large retirement living facility in the Ft. Myers area. With the support of the Tampa Bay Wing of the Commemorative Air Force and other event sponsors, nine Vietnam War veterans and one Korean War veteran were able to take to the skies.

Friends and family cheered on the Shell Point veterans as they embarked on their Dream Flights aboard a Stearman biplane at Page Field. During the 20-minute flight, participants soared 1,000 feet in an open-cockpit biplane, the same aircraft used to train aviators during World War II.

The organization expressed its intention to fulfill the wishes of those they carry aloft. "We collect, preserve, and share the stories of how they survived through times of great strife to remind us of our shared humanity, our connection to each other, and the value of listening. Our Dream Flights bridge the generation gap and offer us a clearer understanding of ourselves and our world."

Since its inception, the foundation has facilitated more than 5,700 flights

You can learn more about the Tampa Bay Wing of the Commemorative Air Force here