WTMJ’s Honor Flights sending 300 vets to DC

Journal Broadcast Group’s Newsradio 620 WTMJ Milwaukee and The Charlie Sykes Show have met the challenge of raising enough money to fly up to 300 southeastern Wisconsin World War II vets from Milwaukee to Washington, D.C., to visit their memorial. In partnership with the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight organization presented by Kaerek Homes and Fields Jaguar, Land Rover, Volvo Waukesha and Madison, Newsradio 620 WTMJ raised $250,000 for “Operation Resolve.”

This campaign was scheduled to run from January 18 to April 16, but it was announced March 31 during Charlie Sykes’ show that the station had met it’s fundraising goal of $250,000 a little over two weeks early. The money will cover the one-day May 2nd trip from Milwaukee to Washington, D.C. for approximately 300 WWII veterans. The trip includes airfare, transportation, food, souvenirs, and tours of the WWII, Iwo Jima and Air Force memorials and Arlington National Cemetery. Unique to this trip will be a reception at the Air and Space Museum.

Through Sykes’ daily promotion of the campaign, listeners were asked to donate money at the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight website. Money continues to come in. Many organizations have planned fundraisers for Stars & Stripes Honor Flight as there are more than 400 veterans still on the waiting list.