On July 29, 2026, 5 veteran friends participated in Honor Flight Chicago #130. You may recognize 4 of us as your classmates. The 5th gentlemen, Ken Carlson, is a 1963 graduate of Wheaton Community High School and a distant cousin of Larry Stark. If you're a veteran and have not yet been on one of these trips, you really should look into it. You'll be glad you did!
Visiting the Viet Nam Veteran's Memorial topped our to-do list as we remembered our good friend and classmate, Darrell Colford. 
A mini reunion with Reid, Stanley, Tom, Bill and Darrell.
A Journey of Honor and Remembrance
The day began in the quiet, pre-dawn darkness of Wheaton, Illinois. At 3:00 AM CT, Bill, Reid, and Stanley gathered at Ken’s house before catching an American Taxi to Midway Airport. By 3:45 AM, their taxi was flagged into the departure level by enthusiastic Honor Flight Chicago (HFC) volunteers. It was the first taste of an overwhelming wave of support: at every step through the public areas of both Chicago and Washington airports, dozens—and then hundreds—of well-wishers lined the way, holding handmade signs and banners to thank the veterans for their service. By 4:00 AM, each veteran was placed in a wheelchair and escorted to a holding area to join the growing queue, where they later learned their friend Tom had arrived as well. At this point all veterans received an Honor Flight Polo Shirt, Dog Tags and name badges on a colored lanyard. Around 4:45 AM, personal attendants guided them through check-in. The process included both informal and formal photographs, a credential check, and boarding pass distribution. As they exited the check-in area, every veteran was personally greeted with a handshake and a photo by Wayne Messmer, the long-time Chicago sports public address announcer and Anthem singer. From there, TSA managers warmly greeted the group and escorted them straight to the gate. At 6:15 AM, the gate area offered coffee, donuts, and a chance to stretch. An HFC manager welcomed everyone before a color guard presentation, the Pledge of Allegiance, and moving renditions of the National Anthem and America the Beautiful led by Wayne Messmer. By 7:20 AM, Flight 130 was airborne, with the veterans enjoying a breakfast of water, bananas, and breakfast sandwiches in the sky. Touching Down in the Nation's Capital Crossing into the Eastern Time Zone, the plane touched down at Washington Dulles International Airport at 9:54 AM ET (8:54 AM CT). The transition from plane to pavement was seamless: instead of walking through the busy terminal, giant mobile "people movers" carried the group directly from the aircraft to the waiting buses outside. By 10:30 AM ET, a six-bus caravan set off with a full motorcycle police escort. Officers blocked off all incoming traffic and kept the freeway clear as the procession passed Arlington National Cemetery and the entrance to the Pentagon where Flight 77 struck on 9/11. These buses served as home base between memorials. Because Bill, Reid, Stanley, Ken, and Tom had requested to travel together, they were assigned to the same bus. Dedicated HFC volunteers—acting as escorts, guardians, and chaperones—remained by their sides all day, pushing wheelchairs, providing hydration, and keeping the group unified. The first official stop at 11:00 AM ET was the Air Force Memorial. Here, the group witnessed a striking performance by the Honor Guard and Air Force Precision Drill Team, took in sweeping views of the Pentagon, and explored the engraved panels. At 12:15 PM ET, the buses headed toward the World War II Memorial, with lunch served on board. Though the midday sun made it very hot, the emotional impact was profound. The group gathered to honor the World War II veterans in attendance—including remarkably dynamic 100- and 105-year-old heroes—while guardians and managers captured the moment on camera. By 2:20 PM ET, a short ride brought them to the west end of the reflecting pool to visit the Vietnam and Korean War Memorials, as well as the Marine and Nurses memorials. As a group of mostly Vietnam-era veterans, this was the heart of the trip. The four WCCHS classmates gathered near the Wall to take a mini-reunion photo by Darrell’s name, taking their time to reflect on a deeply personal stop that left everyone wishing for just a bit more time to talk and remember. At 3:45 PM ET, they boarded the buses once more for the Smithsonian Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. A walking tour took them past aviation giants, including the Enola Gay and the Space Shuttle Discovery. The Journey Home By 5:30 PM ET, the group returned to Dulles, making their way to the H-gate lounge for conversation and a four-course (Chick-fil-A) dinner. They boarded the plane and lifted off at 7:30 PM ET (6:30 PM CT), which was soon followed by the emotional high point of a traditional "Mail Call" during the flight. Each vet received a packet of letters from family, friends, politicians, sports team owners and previous HFC vets and school we never met. Gaining an hour on the flight westward, the plane landed back at Midway at 8:30 PM CT (9:30 PM ET). Bill was among the first to disembark, walking into a massive, roaring crowd that included his wife Kay, daughter Kate, and son-in-law Adam. Stanley joined him next, followed closely by Reid—who was greeted by his wife Margo, daughter Jane, and grandchildren Emma and Quinn. Ken joined the group soon after, and Tom disembarked shortly behind them to reunite with his wife, Janice. The homecoming crowd stretching through the terminal was beyond expectation, lining the walkway from the gate all the way out of the airport. High-energy bands, bagpipers, and Irish dancers filled the halls. Thousands of people reached out to shake their hands, holding signs reading "Welcome Home" and "Thank You for Your Service"—delivering the unforgettable, joyous welcome home that these Korean and Vietnam veterans had deserved for so long. 
Y:/RGS/ClipArt/Misc/IMMGW066 Cropped.png AI: Joke of the Day!
These jokes are provided courtesy of COPILOT and may be updated periodically. And who said AI was dangerous? Betsy Howieson Hart Majsterski Passed AwayWe are sorry to hear of the passing of another classmate. Betsy died on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, in Houston,TX, surrounded by loved ones. Her obituary can be found on the Dettling Funeral Home website.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Betsy's family and friends. We received the following from Carolyn McGawn Morris on New Years Eve 2025:
Molly Colford Howieson let me know this morning that Betsy Howieson died. I haven’t confirmed it yet, but I believe it was yesterday. I did some Facebook sleuthing and found the following that her sister- Rita - posted (looks like it was posted late last night): Today, I lost my oldest sister, Elizabeth Ann Howieson Hart Majsterski. When my mother passed away, Betsy was tasked with helping my father with the five youngest in the family. When my father died, she took the three youngest of us under her wing when she was 23 years old and a newlywed. She was stubborn, feisty, smart, and so much more. I loved her so much. My heart aches. From 8 to 4. The two oldest. The two youngest. |
Dec 31 - All Day & Nite
Jan 17 - 2:00 PM CT
See Co63 Lounge for details Jan 18 - 5:30 PM CT
LA Rams at Chicago 
Feb 7 - TBD
Save this date for our annual Winter Event, on the Saturday before Super Bowl LX. Details TBD. 
Feb 21 - 2:00 PM CT
See Co63 Lounge for details Mar 21 - 2:00 PM CT See Co63 Lounge for details |
| West Chicago Community High School Class of 1963 |
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