As Honor Flight of the Quad Cities volunteers prepare for the next veterans flight on Tuesday, May 13, they also are planning a special salute for a fallen veteran who was supposed to experience the flight.
In March, Honor Flight informed about 80 veterans that it was their turn to take an Honor Flight from Moline to Washington, D.C., to see the memorials in their honor. Among those veterans was Michael Tessendorf of Port Byron, Illinois. The U.S. Army veteran was excited about meeting his flight Guardian and together seeing the memorials.
However, just six weeks before the scheduled flight, Mr. Tessendorf died and was buried beside his comrades at the Rock Island National Cemetery. The flag that covered his coffin was folded properly, presented to his wife Tammie and then the Three Volley Salute was fired.
A few days later, his widow called Honor Flight with a special request – since he was not able to go on the Honor Flight, she asked if the family could send his flag instead? Honor Flight leaders said they were happy to fulfill her request and that his coffin flag will go where he could not.
In fact, those Quad Citians who visit the Quad Cities International Airport to greet the returning Honor Flight veterans on the evening of May 13 will see the flag of the fallen comrade.
Welcome home plans
Mr. Tessendorf’s flag will be the first item to be carried off the plane. A soldier from the Rock Island Arsenal will carefully bring it through the crowd and return it to his wife and family.
The public is always welcome to attend the Welcome Home events.
In addition, for anyone who would like to take part in an Honor Flight, organizers soon will be in need of more flight guardians, who volunteer their time to spend an unforgettable day with a veteran as together they fly and visit the nation’s capital.
More details are available at www.honorflightqc.org. Near the top of the webpage, click on the box called “Application Forms” and download the Guardian application. Then send the completed application to the address on the form.
