The Lake Country Republican Women have a key mission — to honor America’s veterans.
To that end, the local organization has donated a copy of “Honor Flight: A Visual Journey” to the Shawano City-County Library. While the library regularly receives book donations from the community, it is not often the recipient of a $100 book that is hard to come by.
For Ginny Jesse, Lake Country president, the idea of donating the book seemed natural when she found it online.
“I bought one for a raffle item, and then we wanted to increase our giving to the library this year, the literacy program,” Jesse said. “Not everyone can spend $100 on the book, but families of veterans can come here to see it. It’s a gorgeous book.”
Stars and Stripes Honor Flight is a program that flies veterans from World War II and the Korean War to Washington, D.C., to see the memorials erected in their honor. The Honor Flight is also extended to terminally ill veterans from other wars and conflicts.
“Honor Flight: A Visual Journey” has local ties, as many veterans from the Shawano and Marion areas who served the military in World War II are featured in the book.
“The people that will come to see (the book) are those who have had others go there (to the memorials),” said Darlene Ross, Lake Country programs chair. “Because this book is not easily available, there are going to be people with friends here that are going to be looking at the book.”
The proceeds from the coffee table book will go toward financing future Honor Flights, as well as go to Fisher House Wisconsin, a future place for families of veterans to stay while their loved ones are being treated at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee. The groundbreaking for Fisher House will be in June.
The Lake Country Republican Women have been donating to Fisher House through the annual dessert auction it coordinates with Results Broadcasting. The book donation was just an additional way to help, Ross said.
“We’re very aware of how veterans are being treated. Even the ones who are coming out (of service) now are not being treated fairly,” Ross said. “They’re being put to the back burner, and why should they for keeping our freedom?”
Pat Romuald, Lake Country treasurer, purchased “Honor Flight: A Visual Journey” because her father went on an Honor Flight. She knew her father would want to see pictures, not only of himself but also of friends who served.
Library Director Kristie Hauer said she planned to get the book catalogued and prepared for checkout as soon as possible. She noted that many patrons come into the library looking for books relating to wars and the military.
“It’s very much an honor for the group to think of the library, to donate something that has such a significant local history,” Hauer said. “The photographs are just stunning and remarkable. It’ll be wonderful to add to our collection.”
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