Flights of Honor, Purple Heart,
Tomb of the Unknown, Tiger Cage
THE PURPLE HEART BALLOON, TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN (1/2 Size Replica), Vietnam POW Tiger cage and FLIGHTS OF HONOR EXHIBITS ARE AVAILABLE. TO BOOK: 402-612-0210 or info@PatrioticProductions.org
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart inflatable balloon is a wonderful patriotic addition to any parade or event. It is 22 feet high and uses cold air, not helium.
Our thanks to Vietnam Veteran, Mike O’Brien, whose skills, generator, truck and trailer make it possible to appear at local events.
And to the following sponsors: Werner Enterprises Jerry & Rose Mundil Bill Robinson 172nd Transportation Company
Tiger Cage
A space 4’ x 4’ x 4’. No room to stand or lie down. Imprisoned for days, weeks, months, years. This replica of a Tiger Cage was built by the VVA Chapter 146 and donated to Patriotic Productions by Gold Star Wife - Kay Bosiljevac, whose husband, Major Michael Bosiljevac was shot down in North Vietnam in 1972 and died in captivity. Kay became friends with James “Nick” Rowe, who spent 62 months in captivity in South Vietnam, most of it in a Tiger Cage, identical to this one. Rowe was one of only 34 Americans to escape captivity in Vietnam.
Tomb of the Unknown
This half-size replica of the Tomb in Washington, D.C. can be placed indoors or outdoors.
Our thanks to the following sponsors: Beemer ALR Post 159 Jim & Judy Cada Jerry & Rose Mundil Rick & Jayne Wimer VFW Post 4626, Lincoln PENSKE
Flights of Honor
Created to cherish and re-live the countless memories from the 13 Flights of Honor that took 3,500 veterans to Washington, D.C., this exhibit Includes hundreds of photos, providing oppor-tunities for veterans, family members, volunteers and patriots of all ages to reminisce and educate others about the importance of thanking and honoring our veterans and their families.
Sponsors
Governor Pete Ricketts & First Lady Susanne Shore Norfolk Iron & Metal Company Michael & Lois Wilke Leonard Marolf Charitable Trust First National Bank Joseph Fehringer Monica “Lil Sis” Harvey Memorial
Our sincere appreciation to Sandhills Global for underwriting the cost of the exhibit, and to the Tour Sponsors listed above.
Purple Heart Flight
Friday May 24, 2019
Omaha, NE
The Purple Heart Flight, with 181 souls on board, arrived in D.C. at 7:45 am and with the help of the “A Team” of D.C. Police Escorts, arrived at Arlington Cemetery in six minutes during rush hour.
This flight included recipients of the Purple Heart or Bronze Star with Valor (from Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam and Korea), ages 29 to 88, and Gold Star Kids, ranging in age from 5 to 76, whose parents were killed in Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietnam, Korea and WW II. If the children were minors, their mothers accompanied them. Gold Star Parents whose sons were buried at Section 60 were also part of the group.
The day included our Nation’s war memorials and sacred grounds, including Arlington Cemetery’s Section 60 and the national memorial of Remembering Our Fallen, which was near the Lincoln Memorial for Memorial Day weekend.
It was an emotional day for most, and our hope is that some healing took place for the veterans and Gold Star family members who have sacrificed so much.
We thank the following sponsors for their generosity in making this flight possible.
Photos can be found in the Gallery.
Nebraska Female Veterans Flight
Monday, September 24, 2018
Omaha, NE
No Boys Allowed!
And thus began the theme of the 2018 Nebraska Female Veterans Flight for women who had served in any war zone.
This flight was most unusual from previous flights:
· The manifest of 135 women ranged in age from 27 to 98;
· There were several pairs of mothers and daughters, as well as sisters;
· Two veterans brought their service dogs with them;
· Each veteran received a quilt from Quilts of Valor;
· Celebrity, Loretta Swit, was on board with the veterans;
· The Pentagon’s 9/11 Memorial was a first-time stop;
· The group stopped at Arlington’s Section 60, where many of our Fallen from Iraq and Afghanistan have been laid to rest;
· The guardians, flight crew and media were all women;
· 100 American Heritage Girls took time from school to meet the veterans.
This flight was modeled after earlier flights with registration and a Pre-Flight Dinner the day before. The special guest at the event, drawing a crowd of 700, was Loretta Swit, America’s most famous nurse, Major Margaret Houlihan, from the popular TV series, M*A*S*H.
With a 2am wake-up call, the veterans and guardians were on the plane for a 4am departure to Reagan National Airport and a scheduled arrival of 7:30am. Throughout the ten-hour day, stops were made at the memorials and many photos were taken and stories shared among the veterans.
The mood of the day, while often reflective, was also upbeat. Like those before them, these veterans, too, have a remarkable sense of humor. Prior to the approach at Eppley Airfield, you could hear “God Bless America” being sung. A few minutes later, when the charter jet’s pilot had to initiate a go around due to wind sheer, one of the veterans yelled out, “We’re going to Vegas, ladies!” Laughter rang out in the cabin and the excitement continued to build as they awaited the reunion and “WELCOME HOME” with their loved ones and 2,000 people who greeted them.
Less than 24 hours after the flight, a thank you note was received, with comments of how the flight had given this veteran time to reflect on her service and time overseas, while connecting with others who had experienced the same. The support shown in D.C. and Omaha had been humbling. She said she had not been mobilized with her unit, and the return to the states did not have a welcome home celebration. The crowd in Omaha made up for those feelings of indifference and when she thought about the previous day’s events, she said her eyes welled up with tears for this treasured lifetime memory.
These powerful trips and moments are only made possible because of the generous hearts and souls of our donors and volunteers and the public who take the time to go to the airport to say, “WELCOME HOME!” Thanks, everyone, for making this flight, like all of the others, so incredible!
Vietnam Veterans Flight
June 2016 - May 2017
The Vietnam Combat Veterans Flights took nearly 1,200 Vietnam Veterans to see their Memorial in Washington, D.C. Thousands attended their return at the airport to give them the Welcome Home that so few received all those years ago. The May 2017 flight was the largest group of Vietnam Veterans from one state to ever visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
Additional Galleries:
June 6, 2016 512 Veterans
May 1, 2017 653 Veterans
October 23, 2016
On this special occasion, WWII, Korean War and Vietnam Veterans from previous flights and their families were reunited for a day of camaraderie and remembrance. The event raised more than $20,000 to kick off fundraising for the National Remembering Our Fallen Memorial. Special thanks to Embassy Suites and Renze Display Company for making it possible!
Gold Star Kids Honor Flight
November 7, 2015
It's time we say thank you to Gold Star children and their families…the Silent Heroes who have sacrificed so much.
The Gold Star Kids Flight included 65 children who lost a parent in the war, as well as their surviving parent. A pre-flight event the evening before included a catered dinner and activities for the children while their mothers received massages and manicures. The children also received special hand-made quilts and their mothers received bathrobes and slippers. The next morning, they flew a 737 from Omaha to Lincoln; hundreds of Americans came to both airports to thank and welcome them, warming the hearts of all.
The children placed a red rose near the photo of their parent on the “Remembering Our Fallen” memorial during a brief ceremony on the UNL campus. Governor Pete Ricketts welcomed the children and their mothers into the Governor’s Mansion and took pictures with each of them. Before the game, the children took time to write beautiful notes that were attached to a gold balloon that would be launched after the National Anthem inside Memorial Stadium.
The University of Nebraska donated tickets to the Nebraska v. Michigan State football game and made it possible for the family members to sit together in a very special area. To the delight of the Gold Star Kids, Nebraska won the game in the last minute - something they will long remember.
Korean War Veterans Flights
October 2013 - March 2014
Nearly 600 Korean War Veterans were flown to Washington D.C. to view their Korean War Memorial, and to thank them for their service in the "Forgotten War." Thanks to the Theodore F. and Claire M. Hubbard Foundation for their generous gift of $200,000, and $90,000 from an anonymous donor, to help sponsor these flights.
October 29, 2013 137 Veterans
March 25, 2014 462 Veterans
Additional Galleries:
Heartland Honor Flights
(WWII Veterans)
May 2008 - April 2009
The Heartland Honor Flights took 1,491 Nebraska World War II veterans to see their national World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. over the course of seven flights, thanks to the countless efforts of the many volunteers and the donations from so many, which raised $1,200,000. The most substantial donor was the Peter Kiewit Foundation, which donated $365,000.
While the veterans were gone for the day in Washington D.C., many of their wives would enjoy their time “On the Home Front,” hosted by volunteers, which would include lunch and visits to area museums or places of interest. The highlight for many was the evening pizza dinner, at which many shared their own experiences during the war years.
It was truly an experience of a lifetime for everyone involved and an opportunity to say Thank You to these remarkable men and women of The Greatest Generation.
May 21, 2008 102 Veterans
July 8, 2008 120 Veterans
September 16, 2008 248 Veterans
October 22, 2008 139 Veterans
November 19, 2008 142 Veterans
April 23, 2009 374 Veterans
April 24, 2009 366 Veterans
