Honor Flight at A.M. Rotary

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WILMINGTON — Mac McKibben, Honor Flight recipient and one of the two Clinton County Veteran Service Officers at the Clinton County Veterans’ Service Commission at 43 S. Walnut St., recently spoke to the A.M. Rotary Club.

He thanked Rotary for their sponsorship of the flight on Oct. 1 and on behalf of all those 100 or so veterans who went on that flight; he expressed a heartfelt thank you and said it was a humbling and emotional experience for all. He spoke regarding how Honor Flight Dayton had the entire trip so well-planned and logistically coordinated and how everyone involved was very impressed with how smoothly the trip went, with all the police escorts from the Rombach Avenue American Legion home to Washington, D.C. and back.

Mac and Jennifer Woodland, who served as a guardian on the trip, spoke regarding how the veterans who needed assistance had guardians to assist them to maneuver around from buses to the military monuments and other events provided. For example, upon arrival at Reagan International Airport, they were greeted with an airport fire brigade spraying the plane upon taxiing to the terminal. This is normally reserved for aircraft captains coming in on their last retirement flight.

The men’s choir group that greeted them in the lobby of the terminal, as well as the dozens of greeters overwhelming the group with greetings and praise helped make this a truly emotional and unforgettable experience.

Mac spoke about Clinton County Veterans Services, along with their duties and mission. They can be reached via telephone at 937-382-3233, the Clinton County web page and their Facebook page. Their Facebook page has over 1,000 photos that can be viewed of the Honor Flight Dayton trip.

Mac spoke of the final reception at the Greater Dayton Airport, which he said was overwhelming. There were bands, military units of various branches, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, church youth groups, Knights of Columbus and many more.

Anyone interested in more information can go to HonorFlightDayton.org, where you can apply as a veteran for a flight or as a guardian. Be sure to write on the top of the application that you are with Clinton County Flight.

Mac has volunteered to be a guardian on the next flight, as he feels he owes it to his brothers and sisters in arms.

AM Rotary President Geoff Ganz with Mac McKibben.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/11/web1_Mac.jpgAM Rotary President Geoff Ganz with Mac McKibben. Courtesy photo

Mac McKibben entered the U.S. Army in 1968 and served in Vietnam, among other places.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/11/web1_McKibben.jpgMac McKibben entered the U.S. Army in 1968 and served in Vietnam, among other places. Courtesy photo

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