Honor Flight provides lasting memories for Veterans with Sanborn ties
The Midwest Honor Flight which carried over 80 Veterans to the Washington, DC area and back on June 3 included at least two passengers of significance to Sanborn residents. Jon Sybesma of Sanborn was accompanied on the tour by his son Shane. Terry J. Van Roekel, a former Sanborn resident now living in Sergeant Bluff, made the trip with his daughter Lori.
The tour included visiting the various Memorials – World War II, Iwo Jima (Marine), Korean War, Vietnam War, Air Force, Navy – along with a visit to Arlington National Cemetery and the Changing of the Guard at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Jon served in the Marine Corps in Camp LeJeune, NC as a NCO payroll clerk for the Headquarters Company at a training base and rifle range. Understandably, the Iwo Jima Marine Corps Memorial was one of Jon’s favorite moments on the tour. He said other highlights were the Vietnam Wall, the World War II Memorial, the Navy Memorial, the Air Force Memorial, the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and much more. “The busyness of the Washington DC city and the massive office buildings was impressive, too,” he added.
Jon and Shane were also able to meet Terry Van Roekel in Washington DC. “We had a great trip,” said Jon.
Terry is a Vietnam Veteran who served in the U.S. Army’s 4th Infantry Division. He said his favorite part of the flight also was going to Arlington for the Changing of the Guard. Daughter Jennifer shared that when she and Lori were out on their own, Terry traveled to various places around the world. He had experienced changing of the guard in other countries like England. So, it was pretty special for him to witness changing of the guard in the U.S. She said her Dad also spoke about how the tour guide said the cemetery is expanding 80 acres. After these 80 acres are filled, they will have to “go somewhere else”.
Another favorite part of the tour for Terry was visiting the Vietnam Memorial and its Memorial Wall. Here Terry was able to get a name rubbing off the wall of his Sanborn high school classmate and friend, Michael D. Schulz. “I think that was pretty special for him,” said Jennifer. PFC Schultz was killed in action in Vietnam on March 23, 1967 and is buried in Roseland Cemetery.
The list of memorials is expanding as Terry saw crews working on the Desert Storm Memorial.
Terry and family urge any Veteran who can to get on the list of future Honor Flights and be a part of this experience.