Veterans

A group that organizes flights for World War II veterans to Washington D.C. is grounded. Central Prairie Honor Flights flew the veterans from central Kansas to the Nation's capital. The trips give the few vets that remain a chance to visit the national memorial built in their honor. The Great Bend based organization was formed in 2008, and flew more than a thousand World War II veterans. The group was recently told it's losing it's affiliation with the national Honor Flight organization based in Ohio.

A convoy of trucks is on its way to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. They are bringing 100,000 wreaths that will be placed on grave sites there December 10th. The tradition started twenty years ago when a wreath company in Portland, Maine found itself with 5,000 wreaths in December when it was too late to sell them.  They ended up at Arlington. Read more about it here ,  and here's the link to the Wreaths Across America.

Connie McCue has a passion for quilting. She and her friends get together three times a week to make quilts for veterans. They call their club the War and Peace Quilters. "It's just a wonderful project because we can't give back enough to these young people," McCue explains. Her quilts go to veterans not only of the Afghanistand and Iraq wars, but also World War II, Korea and Vietnam. "Just anyone who's giving their time and service for our country and to keep us safe is an inspiration to us," said one of the quilters Shirley Morris.

Kansas veterans have returned to Wichita after touring war memorials in the nation's capital. A Kansas honor flight took the veterans to Washington, D.C. For free. Many of the veterans served in WWII, and were given a chance to see the memorial dedicated to them. The veterans said it was meaningful to see the memorial in person. "Realizing how tall, and big the statue of the the men raising the flag at Iwo Jima," James McGuire said. "Pictures do not tell the size and scope of that statue.

Veterans received a special treat at the Kansas State Fair Wednesday.  They were treated to a free brunch, as well as entertainment and remarks from an Iraq War vet at the annual Bring a Veteran to Brunch event. The annual brunch at  has been a part of the fair for the last three years. Many of the veterans at the event wore hats and buttons to indicate their branch of service, and what conflicts they served in. Connie Schmitt, special events director for the Kansas State Fair says it's important to honor all veterans, and many who attend the brunch served during World War II.    "We're losing probably over a thousand a day of our World War II veterans, and its our way of saying thank you," she said.  About 175 people attended the brunch, including veterans and their family members.  The brunch also included music and a speech by an Army Chaplain, speaking about his service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

INTRUST Bank Arena is honoring veterans with a buy one, get one free ticket offer for the Wichita State/UAB game. That game is set for Friday, Novembe 25 at 7:05 at the arena. The arena says the BOGO offer is good on the $47, $32 and $17 price levels from November 11 through November 18 at 6:00 pm. The offer is ONLY good at the INTRUST Bank Arena Box Office with a valid military ID.

Construction is underway for a garden to help veterans, their families and workers.  The Dole Veterans Affairs (VA) Center is hoping a new garden will help it better treat veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  The Center broke ground on a new Peace Garden today.  The garden will be part of the Center's PTSD therapy services. "So veterans can actually be digging in the dirt," said Heidi Barrus, a nurse at the VA Center instrumental in organizing the garden.  "We're going to have raised flower beds, so it's accessible to all veterans.  We're going to have plants that are aromatic and soft to the touch for our veterans that are visually impaired.

Their goal is to go coast-to-coast, 4,000 miles on bicycles. Dodge City is one Kansas town hosting riders with the Sea to Shining Sea ride. They started in San Francisco on Memorial Day. Many of them are veterans with physical disabilities. They say they won't let their disabilities define them. "To empower and show other veterans things can be done again. You can get out of your house and you can do stuff you thought you couldn't do," said one rider. The riders are in Dodge City through Thursday.

The U.S. Attorney's office announced Monday that a Wichita attorney has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for embezzling from veterans whose finances she was managing. The attorney was ordered to pay a total of more than $318,899 in restitution. Janell Jenkins-Foster, 57,  pleaded guilty to two counts of embezzlement. In her plea, she admitted that she embezzled funds from United States veterans while she was serving as curator of their estates in 2008. As curator, she was responsible for the receipt, care and disbursement of money paid to the veterans.

Army Corporal Frank Johnson died 61 years ago, and has just now reached his final resting place. A big crowd turned out for this man who most never knew.  He got full military honors. Johnson had been listed as missing in action for decades.  His surviving family members never knew what happened to him until recently.  That's when the army matched Johnson's DNA to human remains handed over by the North Korean government.  It turns out the 20-year-old Johnson starved to death in a POW camp in 1951.

Kansas veterans have returned to Wichita after touring war memorials in the nation's capital. A Kansas honor flight took the veterans to Washington, D.C. For free. Many of the veterans served in WWII, and were given a chance to see the memorial dedicated to them. The veterans said it was meaningful to see the memorial in person. "Realizing how tall, and big the statue of the the men raising the flag at Iwo Jima," James McGuire said. "Pictures do not tell the size and scope of that statue.

It's a small stretch of road in downtown Wichita leading to a tourist attraction. But very few people know the significance of North Greenway. The road sits to the west of Veteran's Memorial Park. And it's about to get a new name. Philip Blake, WWII veteran and "unofficial" park manager, has made it his mission to help give the park an identity. He's pushed to bring new memorials to the park, as well as identify others that have needed a facelift. "It's a tremendous tourist attraction," he said.

It's a dangerous job, but somebody has to do it. Now, the U.S. military has lifted it's ban on women in combat. After 38 years in the Air Force, Diane Hiebert says women can be every bit as capable as men on the battle field. "There are guys that have no business in combat," Hiebert says.  "I have seen some really squirrely guys, and they're higher maintenance than a lot of women I know. " This Newton native was one of the first women to ever work in weather equipment maintenance for the Air Force.  That job took her all over the world, including the combat zones of the Iraq War. "We were not necessarily getting shot at, although we were prepared to get shot at," Hiebert says.

Life usually starts slowing down a bit around the age of 60.  But not for one man.  He's speeding up.  And he's hoping you'll help him on his way. After 24 years as a Wichita police officer, Mark Jackson is used to putting on a uniform every day for work.  But this year it looks a little different. "I wanted to celebrate my 60th year on earth in a way different than most people do," said Jackson.  "I've committed to raise $10,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

The people of Gray County spent part of veterans day by cutting the ribbon on a new Veteran's Memorial Park. Around thirty people showed up for the ribbon cutting at the park, which is on Highway 56 in the town of Ensign. Organizers hope the park becomes a roadside attraction where people can recognize and pay tribute to soldiers who served the United States.

Sunday is Veterans Day and many take time to remember those who served in a special ceremony at Wichita's Veteran's Memorial Park. The event was put on by the Air Capitol Detachment of the Marine Corps League. The ceremony featured a presentation of the colors and a special wreath laying. Organizers say holidays like this are important. "I think a lot of guys carry ghosts and in a way it's a day that they can be around people that understand what they went through.

Construction is underway for a garden to help veterans, their families and workers.  The Dole Veterans Affairs (VA) Center is hoping a new garden will help it better treat veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  The Center broke ground on a new Peace Garden today.  The garden will be part of the Center's PTSD therapy services. "So veterans can actually be digging in the dirt," said Heidi Barrus, a nurse at the VA Center instrumental in organizing the garden.  "We're going to have raised flower beds, so it's accessible to all veterans.  We're going to have plants that are aromatic and soft to the touch for our veterans that are visually impaired.

Veterans received a special treat at the Kansas State Fair Wednesday.  They were treated to a free brunch, as well as entertainment and remarks from an Iraq War vet at the annual Bring a Veteran to Brunch event. The annual brunch at  has been a part of the fair for the last three years. Many of the veterans at the event wore hats and buttons to indicate their branch of service, and what conflicts they served in. Connie Schmitt, special events director for the Kansas State Fair says it's important to honor all veterans, and many who attend the brunch served during World War II.    "We're losing probably over a thousand a day of our World War II veterans, and its our way of saying thank you," she said.  About 175 people attended the brunch, including veterans and their family members.  The brunch also included music and a speech by an Army Chaplain, speaking about his service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Larry Jackson woke up Monday morning with no job, no car and little hope. He left Eyewitness News with a set of wheels and renewed hope for the future. Jackson has served his country for more than 30 years, including 2 tours in Iraq. He worked at Hawker Beachcraft in Wichita before being laid off in 2010. Terry Franz and the folks at "Cars 4 Heroes" match deserving veterans with gently used cars, to help them back on their feet. "I have one of the most rewarding jobs there is," said Franz.

An Afghanistan War veteran and a double amputee has a new companion. Ryan Newell's previous dog was stolen from him while he was washing his car in Park City. The dog was later hit by a car along I-135. A nationally certified animal obedience instructor will help train Newell's dog free of charge. Meantime, police are still looking for the couple that stole Newell's first dog, Red, on August 3. In 2010, Newell  was arrested for stalking members of the Westboro Baptist Church.