MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — As Veterans Day is celebrated across the country, one Kansas-based organization continues to honor those who served by giving them a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the memorials built in their honor.
Mike Van Campen, president of Kansas Honor Flight, joined us to share the mission behind the program — a mission that has brought nearly 5,000 Kansas veterans to Washington, D.C., since 2012.
“We started Kansas Honor Flight in 2012 after a previous hub in Great Bend closed,” Van Campen said. “Several of us wanted to continue the mission — and 105 flights later, we’ve now taken just under 5,000 veterans to see their memorials.”
The flights — entirely free for veterans — are made possible through donations from individuals, community groups, and schools across Kansas. The organization operates without any state or federal funding.
“The money simply comes from a grateful public,” Van Campen said. “Churches, American Legion posts, schools — it’s incredible how many students and organizations step up to help our veterans make this trip.”
A Journey of Honor and Reflection
Each flight follows a carefully organized three-day itinerary. Veterans and their guardians depart Wichita on a Monday and fly to Baltimore, where they visit Fort McHenry before touring the nation’s capital.
Tuesday is a full day of remembrance, visiting the World War II, Korean, Vietnam, Air Force, and Navy memorials, as well as the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery for the Changing of the Guard ceremony.
“We apply for permission to hold a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington for each bus,” Van Campen said. “Twelve veterans per flight get to take part in that very special moment — it’s something they’ll never forget.”
The wreaths, he noted, are handmade by one of his high school classmates who crafts them from grapevines grown on his vineyard near Baltimore.
Stories Finally Shared
For many veterans — particularly from World War II and Korea — the Honor Flight experience opens the door to conversations their families have never heard before.
“Their kids tell us, ‘Dad never talked about his service until this trip,’” Van Campen shared. “These men and women came home, took off their uniforms, and went back to work. But on these flights, surrounded by fellow veterans, they finally start to share their stories.”
Guardians and Volunteers Make It Possible
Veterans who need assistance are paired with a guardian, someone who ensures their comfort and safety throughout the trip. Guardians — often a child, grandchild, or volunteer — pay their own way, contributing $900 to cover airfare, lodging, and meals. Veterans travel completely free.
“We’ve even had volunteers who’ve gone seven or eight times,” Van Campen said. “They’ll take off work, pay their way, and help a total stranger — just because they want to give back.”
How to Get Involved
Kansas Honor Flight operates four flights per year — typically in May, June, August, September, and October — carrying around 95 veterans per trip. The waiting list is currently about a year, meaning those who apply now will likely travel in 2026.
Applications for veterans and guardians are available at www.kansashonorflight.org.
“All a veteran has to do is decide they want to go,” Van Campen said. “We’ll take care of the rest.”
For those looking to support the mission, tax-deductible donations can also be made through the organization’s website.
As Van Campen put it, “Every flight is a reminder of what service and sacrifice truly mean — and what it means for a grateful Kansas to say, thank you.”