Efforts to take World War II veterans to see the war's memorial in Washington are in flux in Kansas.
the Wichita Eagle (http://bit.ly/Lyfkui) reported that one organization that conducted the free trips is on the verge of disappearing, and another is trying to replace it.
Problems came to a head after Springfield, Ohio-based Honor Flight decided it no longer wanted great Bend-based Central Prairie Honor Flights to help organize trips for the national network. Issues included a veteran breaking a rib after falling out of a top bunk in April 2011, reports being filed late and checks going uncashed for months.
Central Prairie Honor Flights, which hasn't had any flights in 2012 and canceled two June flights, is considering its options. For more than 21/2 years, the organization raised nearly $1.2 million and conducted 17 Honor Flights that took more than 1,100 World War II veterans to Washington.
but the organization that ran Central Prairie Honor Flights lost federal funding in spring 2011. That meant the great Bend group lost its only federal employee, Dan Curtis, who had served as the Honor Flights' coordinator.
LaVeta Miller, who was promoted from program assistant to its manager, acknowledged making mistakes but said she just wants "to do what's best for the veterans."
the bunk-bed incident happened after Curtis learned of inexpensive rates at the 4-H's national headquarters and told Miller she should book them instead of the hotel where the veterans usually stayed. but the 4-H quarters also included some bunk beds that couldn't be separated.
Although the veterans were told not to climb up in the bunks, at least one did.
"they leave here 85," Miller said, "but they think they're 23 when they get out there."
Superintendent Brian Spencer, who brought Honor Flights to Kansas in 2007 and is on the national board, said there were "a myriad of reasons" for unanimously voting to drop Central Prairie's certification. he noted that most of the 117 hubs across the country operate in a more local fashion, serving a smaller geographic area.
"Central Prairie has moved a lot of veterans and done a great job," he said, "but they're big and cumbersome. It's difficult for one person to do it all and not have issues."
now, two former Central Prairie volunteers — whose complaints to the national office resulted in the great Bend's group affiliation being dropped — are ramping up a new organization: Hutchinson-based Kansas Honor Flight. Its president, Mike VanCampen, said his organization won't do the larger charter flights but will fly commercial, taking about 30 veterans at a time.
"It's much safer and more comfortable for the veterans (to travel in smaller groups)," VanCampen said.
meanwhile, Herb Duncan, a Wichita fundraiser for the great Bend hub, is considering the possibility of connecting with another similar program. but the uncertainty has left potential donors wondering what to do.
"Right now, going out in the business community trying to raise funds, I'm getting doors shut in my face," Duncan said. "they want to know who's in charge."
interest in the trips remains high, with at least several hundred Kansas World War II veterans indicating they want to go on a flight.
"It's a major tragedy if infighting in the organization screws it up," said Phil Blake, a World War II vet who went on an Honor Flight in 2009. "These guys are dying off very quickly."
Efforts to take World War II veterans to see the war's memorial in Washington are in flux in Kansas.
the Wichita Eagle (http://bit.ly/Lyfkui) reported that one organization that conducted the free trips is on the verge of disappearing, and another is trying to replace it.
Problems came to a head after Springfield, Ohio-based Honor Flight decided it no longer wanted great Bend-based Central Prairie Honor Flights to help organize trips for the national network. Issues included a veteran breaking a rib after falling out of a top bunk in April 2011, reports being filed late and checks going uncashed for months.
Central Prairie Honor Flights, which hasn't had any flights in 2012 and canceled two June flights, is considering its options. For more than 21/2 years, the organization raised nearly $1.2 million and conducted 17 Honor Flights that took more than 1,100 World War II veterans to Washington.
but the organization that ran Central Prairie Honor Flights lost federal funding in spring 2011. That meant the great Bend group lost its only federal employee, Dan Curtis, who had served as the Honor Flights' coordinator.
LaVeta Miller, who was promoted from program assistant to its manager, acknowledged making mistakes but said she just wants "to do what's best for the veterans."
the bunk-bed incident happened after Curtis learned of inexpensive rates at the 4-H's national headquarters and told Miller she should book them instead of the hotel where the veterans usually stayed. but the 4-H quarters also included some bunk beds that couldn't be separated.
Although the veterans were told not to climb up in the bunks, at least one did.
"they leave here 85," Miller said, "but they think they're 23 when they get out there."
Superintendent Brian Spencer, who brought Honor Flights to Kansas in 2007 and is on the national board, said there were "a myriad of reasons" for unanimously voting to drop Central Prairie's certification. he noted that most of the 117 hubs across the country operate in a more local fashion, serving a smaller geographic area.
"Central Prairie has moved a lot of veterans and done a great job," he said, "but they're big and cumbersome. It's difficult for one person to do it all and not have issues."
now, two former Central Prairie volunteers — whose complaints to the national office resulted in the great Bend's group affiliation being dropped — are ramping up a new organization: Hutchinson-based Kansas Honor Flight. Its president, Mike VanCampen, said his organization won't do the larger charter flights but will fly commercial, taking about 30 veterans at a time.
"It's much safer and more comfortable for the veterans (to travel in smaller groups)," VanCampen said.
meanwhile, Herb Duncan, a Wichita fundraiser for the great Bend hub, is considering the possibility of connecting with another similar program. but the uncertainty has left potential donors wondering what to do.
"Right now, going out in the business community trying to raise funds, I'm getting doors shut in my face," Duncan said. "they want to know who's in charge."
interest in the trips remains high, with at least several hundred Kansas World War II veterans indicating they want to go on a flight.
"It's a major tragedy if infighting in the organization screws it up," said Phil Blake, a World War II vet who went on an Honor Flight in 2009. "These guys are dying off very quickly."