GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – It was an emotional return home for 70 area veterans following a whirlwind trip to the nation’s capital on Thursday.
The first-ever Old Glory Honor Flight in Green Bay drew upwards of 2,000 well-wishers to Austin Straubel Airport wanting to thank the men and women of service.
One special tandem on board was the father-son duo of Shawano County Sheriff Adam Bieber and his father Dennis.
“It’s a wonderful, wonderful feeling,” says Dennis, a Sergeant in the 5th Special Forces with the Green Baret during the Vietnam War. “I’ve been so blessed.”
For this father and son team it’s not their first trip together to the nation’s capital, but probably the first one that Adam can remember well.
“I went out there thirty years ago with my Dad, I was probably ten-years-old,” says Adam. “He was there for a special forces reunion.”
And it was time for a trip back, at the very least to see some new features that weren’t around thirty years ago.
“Obviously the World War II Monument wasn’t there thirty-years-ago,” explains Adam. “It was amazing.”
It was a long day for those participating as they arrived at the airport around 5:30 AM and boarded their charter flight set for Washington D.C. at 6:30 AM. Once they arrived in the nation’s capital a surprise was awaiting the group.
“When we got to Washington I didn’t expect to see anyone, I mean who do I know in Washington?” explains Dennis. “And here’s all these little kids waving flags, it actually broke me right down.”
Some of the sights seen in Washington included the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the Vietnam War Memorial, and the Marine Corps War Memorial.
Tagging along with the group of 70 veterans and their guardians were five former Packer players, which included Mark Tauscher, Paul Coffman, Lynn Dickey, Earl Dotson, and Marco Rivera.
Waiting back in Green Bay were droves of family, friends, and members of the community that wanted to show their gratitude.
American flags were handed out to everyone in attendance and live music was performed by an area high school band.
The veterans received a raucous welcome home from well-wishers lining all sides of the airport. The scene was so moving that it provided Dennis Bieber with a change of heart.
“I was feeling kind of down, I thought not too many people liked America anymore,” Dennis says was his mindset prior to the event. “But, I was really uplifted to see how many patriotic people there are out here.”
It was a special event that proved to be a fitting end to Brown Counties 200th Anniversary Celebration and had many reflecting on their blessings.
“I just thank the good Lord that we live in the country that we live in,” says Dennis. “And that I can be a part of it.”
