Teclaw, Butch (Honor Flight – 24 September 2012)
Left, Butch Teclaw, among the 90-plus veterans, gather at the WWII Memorial for a commemorative photo during their day-long tour of the many landmarks around the nation’s capital.
The “Never Forgotten Honor Flight” organization out of Wausau has spent the last three years offering free lights to veterans in the region who served during World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials erected in their honor. An affiliate of the national group, Honor Flight Network – which began this activity in in 2005 – has organized a round-trip flight to Washington D.C. for over 81,000 veterans over the years, and 2012 marked the year that Thorp’s own Butch Teclaw was able to join the ranks.
Back in early August, Butch received a letter from the “Never Forgotten Honor Flight” organization, letting him know he was selected to be one of the 90 other WWII, Korean, and Vietnam veterans on the program’s ninth trip to Washington D.C. on Monday, September 24. Before long, it was the day before the flight, and Butch, along with his son Jerry Teclaw, arrived at the Howard Johnson Hotel in Wausau to register, partake in a group dinner, and get ready for the flight the following morning.
With plenty of program volunteers helping get all the veterans on the flight and ready to go, the group of participants were able to make it to Washington D.C. right on schedule. By mid-morning, the group of veterans arrived at the WWII Memorial, where they took a commemorative photo in their gold polo shirts that the program provided each participant. The group’s trip was not limited to visiting one memorial; rather, they took a bus tour, visiting the Navy Memorial, the White House, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Air Force Memorial, 9-11 Memorial, the Pentagon, and the Arlington National Cemetery, where they were able to watch the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, before departing back to Wisconsin at the end of the day.
At the conclusion of the program, Butch received a certificate, reading, “In recognition of your participation in the Never Forgotten Honor Flight on September 24, 2012 to visit the Veteran’s Memorials erected in your honor. We will never forget your service in your country.”
