A group of senior veterans and a couple of volunteers took to the skies Monday morning in a restored WWII-era Stearman biplane, savoring 15 minutes of open-cockpit flight as Dream Flights brought its nationwide mission of honoring veterans to the Four Corners Regional Airport.
The event, sponsored by Three Rivers Estates Senior Living and Memory Care, gave 10 participants a chance to experience what founder Darryl Fischer calls the “pure magic” of flight – a program that has delivered more than 8,400 free rides to veterans across the country. Passengers described the Farmington flights as “outstanding,” “unbelievable” and “like being a bird,” while Fischer and his volunteer crew said the joy and renewed energy they witnessed is what keeps them traveling from state-to-state each season.
With six aircraft, 12 pilots and a safety-focused operation, Dream Flights continues its April-to-October tour, offering veterans moments that many say are among the best of their lives.
James Thomas, 93, who served 30 years and 30 days in the U.S. Army, described his dream flight as “outstanding … don’t know the words. To look out and see my daughter’s house then down by the river.”
As an airborne infantry soldier, Thomas retired as a colonel after serving in Panama and many other locations.
“Totally unique,” said Thomas, who had flown in all kinds of airplanes and made more than 70 jumps.
Robert Williams, a volunteer at TRESL & MC, served as an aviation mechanic in the U.S. Navy. Williams recalled the exact time he served – “four years, two months, two days.”
After the military, Williams studied the natural sciences at the University of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff. Williams applied with the National Park Service, but it faced job cuts by President Lyndon B. Johnson’s administration, so Williams went into private industry.
He retired from Arizona Public Service at their local power plant after working in instrumentation, electrical and management.
David McNally, 83, said the flight was “awesome.”
“Oh man, unbelievable,” said the grateful passenger who served in the U.S. Navy aboard an aircraft carrier in combat air information.
He added, “Yeah, it’s like being a bird. I’ve never sat in nothing like that in my life.”
Anita Lewis, 92, a TRESL & MC resident and former society editor in Gallup, was excited about her flight. She qualified because all five of her sons served in the military.
Mike Perry, Dream Flights crew chief based in Reno, Nevada, was on his second tour with Darryl Fischer, founder of Dream Flights.
“I mean, it just makes me happy,” Perry said. “That's why I’m here, all right, you know, volunteering because it’s just really wonderful to see how excited these guys are.”
Tina Jaime, Life Enrichment director at TRESL & MC, said it was a perfect day for the event she helped organize.
Alicia Jimenez, TRESL & MC administrator, said, “I think taking the time to just give our veterans some little extra love is something, you know, beautiful.”
The new Four Corners Regional Airport manager Jeremy Patton said he is familiar with Dream Flights, as they had been to the Cortez airport where he previously managed.
Fischer, also based in Reno, said Dream Flights happened by accident in 2011 when his dad asked him to join him on a trip to Mississippi to pick up a Stearman airplane that was being rebuilt.
Fischer, the president of Mission Senior Living, which owns Three Rivers Estates Senior Living and Memory Care, said he was inspired on the return flight to give airplane rides to veterans in their senior living facilities.
“So, I kind of got this idea that, ‘Hey, when we’re coming back to Oregon, we have to do 15 gas stops,’ and I asked my dad if it was OK if I call the senior living community at the places we were stopping,” Fischer said.
“And it was so awesome that we just kept doing it,” he chuckled.
“Yeah, we’ve given now over 8,400 flights,” Fischer said, adding they have six airplanes and 12 pilots.
“It’s been an amazing experience,” he said. “We’ve been very, very blessed to be able to do what we do.”
Fischer said one of his passengers today said, “That's the best thing I've ever done.”
From Fischer’s perspective, the joy, exhilaration and energy is immeasurable. One veteran told him, “I feel like a young man again.”
These types of heartfelt messages bring tremendous satisfaction to Fischer and Perry.
“Right before your eyes, you see them change in their full demeanor and their enthusiasm and energy and everything,” Fischer said.
dalbright@tricityrecordnm.com
