March 28, 2024

Alliance seeks to honor Jasper County vets

Bus trip to the unofficial Middle East Memorial Wall planned

As a commercial airline pilot, Craig Nida has ferried hundreds of World War II veterans to Washington, D.C. to see the memorials on the national mall. Thanks to a trip that’s being organized by the Jasper County Veterans Alliance Nida, a former Apache helicopter pilot, and veteran of Desert Storm will have the same chance he’s helped provide for others.

The trip, which is being organized by Doug Bishop, a member of the veterans alliance and Jasper County treasurer, will take veterans to visit the unofficial Middle East Conflicts Memorial Wall. The wall, located in Marseilles, Ill., was dedicated June 19, 2004 to commemorate  the servicemen and women who have lost their lives in worldwide conflicts since 1979. The project was built with donated material and labor and is the first of its kind in the history of the United States to honor fallen servicemen and women while a conflict is ongoing.

For Nida, the trip represents a chance to connect with fellow veterans, many of whom he’s lost contact with over the years.

“I’m looking forward to reconnecting with fellow vets and being around like minded people,” Nida said. “I don’t belong to any of the organizations, and since I retired I’m really not that connected with other vets.”

Membership in the Jasper County Veterans Alliance isn’t a requirement to participate in the bus trip, veterans need only be living in the county, or to have started their service while a resident of Jasper County. Bishop said it’s an opportunity for the Alliance and the local American Legion to get connected with, and give back to younger veterans.

“It’s a younger crew, our thought is that we want to get them out there before they’re 70 or 80 years old like the flights are,” Bishop said. “Who knows how long it’ll be before they have a memorial out there in D.C.”

Bishop estimates that there are more than 300 veterans living in Jasper County that qualify for the trip, and he’s been reaching out to as many as he can. Earlier this summer the alliance sent out 114 applications, and Bishop is hoping that every qualified veteran in the county will have a chance to make the trip.

Organizers haven’t set a firm date for the trip yet, they’re trying to gauge interest to see how many veterans are interested before nailing down an itinerary. Bishop said the plan is to have a send off party on Friday, then load the buses early Saturday morning for the trip to Marseilles in order to be back in Jasper County by Saturday night. Bishop estimated that each bus, which holds 54 people, will cost $5,500, which the veterans alliance plans to raise through donations.

“There’s zero cost to veterans, clothing, meals, drinks, everything is taken care of,” Bishop said.

For Nida, the trip represents a chance to close the circle. After seeing the effect that the Freedom Flights had on the Greatest Generation veterans he’s hoping he’ll feel those same emotions as he stands in front of the memorial wall in Illinois.

“I’m happy they have their memorial and they could do that in the twilight of their life,” Nida said. “I’m doing this to share those same emotions that they had.”

For more information about the trip email coordinator Doug Bishop at jaspervetalliance@yahoo.com

Contact David Dolmage at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or ddolmage@newtondailynews.com