Bessemer VFW's Honor Flight fundraiser draws big crowd

By P.J. GLISSON

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Bessemer - The third annual fundraising dinner for the U.P. Honor Flight drew nearly 200 people to Bessemer's VFW Post 3673 on Saturday night.

"This event is so special to us because it is helping us to help our senior veterans to visit their memorials in Washington D.C.," said Post Commander Donna Frello while welcoming the crowd. "How cool is it that we all are helping to make that happen?"

Frello's husband, John Frello, who is the post quartermaster, said attendance had doubled from last year's event.

"The turnout here is overwhelming," he said, while acting as the emcee of Saturday's event. "It's truly outstanding, and we so appreciate it."

The U.P. Honor Flight is based in Gladstone, near Escanaba, and the quartermaster told the Globe that its staff prioritizes applicants from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, respectively.

"They will make exceptions if someone is terminal," he said of the occasional flights that accommodate those in wheelchairs and that also provide guides to accompany participants to view their memorials.

Among those attending the Saturday dinner were JoAnne and Roy Sand, of Bessemer. "We both were in the service," said JoAnne, explaining that she had been in the U.S. Army while her husband had been in the U.S. Navy.

John and Mary Turkal, of Ironwood, also were there. Mary said her husband had spent 18 and one-half years in the service, between the U.S. Air Force and the National Guard.

The guest speaker of the evening was retired Army Lt. Col. David Manki, who is a former JROTC instructor in Ironwood.

Linda Malmberg and Kathy Koval also coordinated a basket raffle; with basket themes such as painting, yooper, doggy, auto, grilling and several more.

"Everything will be donated," said John Frello of proceeds taken in for the dinner, as well as any additional funds from the raffle or separate donations from businesses and individuals.

Luan Jacobson said she was among about a dozen people working with Donna Frello in the kitchen to provide a full hot spread of food.

Gogebic County treasurer Lisa Hewitt explained to the crowd the concept of a small table setting for one that sat in the back of the room.

Hewitt said the accompanying empty chair was to represent soldiers missing in action or taken as prisoners of war. Among the table's additional symbols were a lemon wedge to illustrate "bitter fate," a rose to remind of bloodshed, and a lit candle to suggest hope and guidance.

The band Lake Effect was scheduled to play after the dinner.

On April 27, the Bessemer VFW also hosted the second annual Daffodil Dayz, organized by Kathy Whitburn, who is the president of Bessemer's VFW Auxiliary. Profits from that event also went to the U.P. Honor Flight.

Whitburn said that the two events last year raised more than $7,000 for the two U.P. flights that take place each year. Each flight costs $65,000.

The U.P. Honor Flight is part of the National Honor Flight Network.