On Friday, September 18, Luke Fast was one of 95 World War II veterans to fly to Washington D.C. for a Roughrider Honor Flight. His son Tim, construction coordinator II at Basin Electric, accompanied Luke on the trip.
The Roughrider Honor Flight started in 2004 as a way to honor the veterans of World War II. At no cost, veterans are flown to Washington, D.C. to see the National World War II Memorial. The program is run entirely on donations.
The veterans spent the first afternoon at the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Korean War Veterans Memorial. That evening they had a reception and dinner in honor of the veterans.
Luke’s dinner table had three of the oldest veterans on the trip. Luke is a couple of weeks short of 94-years-old, but he wasn’t the oldest. Also at the table were 94-year-old Marcus Wax of Dickinson, ND and 95-year-old Paul Osadchy of Max, ND, who still lives on the farm by himself.
Paul Osadchy, Luke Fast and Marcus Wax share stories during Roughrider Honor Flight reception.
Sunday morning, breakfast was bright and early at 6:30 a.m. At 7:45 they boarded the buses and headed for the National World War II Memorial.
Luke Fast visits the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.
During a two hour visit at the memorial, Tim says the veterans received many handshakes and thank yous from strangers. Tim says there were three Asian men who did not speak any English, but wanted their picture taken with some of the veterans.
Tim Fast, Basin Electric employee, joins his father Luke at the North Dakota pillar of the National WWII Memorial.
After two busy days, Tim says the flight home was a noisy one. The plane was full of 80- and 90-year-old men, sharing stories and reliving the weekend. Very few men slept.
Basin Electric contributed $20,000 to the Roughrider Honor Flight in 2009.
According to the Roughrider Honor Flight Web site (http://rrhonorflight.com), every $1,000 will send one veteran on a flight.
Great story, Tracie. I imagine it was an emotional time for Tim and his Dad to make this flight together, and then be part of sharing memories with other WWII veterans. Basin Electric’s $20,000 supports a wonderful cause.
Thanks for the article. I hadn’t heard about this…My father is Marcus Wax of Dickinson, NDakota.