Legion Post 35 to host ‘Last Frontier Honor Flight’ barbecue fundraiser

MAT-SU — An old-fashioned barbecue is planned at 5 p.m., Aug. 17 at the American Legion Susitna Valley Post 35 — Mile 46, Parks Highway — to raise funds for the Last Frontier Honor Flight network.

Established in January under the nonprofit umbrella of American Legion Post 35, the group’s goal is to fly 25 World War II, Korea and Vietnam vets to Washington, D.C., this fall to visit the memorials built in their honor.

Including a guardian who will travel with each vet, 55 people plan to make the four-day, five-night trip beginning Oct. 25.

Last Frontier Honor Flight was set up under the leadership of Ron and Lynda Travis and Greg and Terry Archibald, and is the first nonprofit in Alaska dedicated to bringing veterans to Washington, D.C.

Ron Travis of Big Lake, a U.S. Navy veteran who served in Vietnam, said the Honor Flight network in the Lower 48 has flown about 100,000 veterans to Washington, D.C.

Interviewed as part of U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s Veterans’ Spotlight series, Travis described the Navy as a family business; his father and brother both served in the Navy and he joined in 1961 after graduating high school. He was assigned to the USS Providence CLG-6 and quickly sent to Vietnam. After his service in the Navy, he said he used the GI Bill to go to college in Washington state.

Travis said most World War II vets are 85 years old and older and a World War II or Korean War veteran is estimated to die every 90 seconds, most without ever seeing the memorials dedicated in their honor.

The menu for the fundraiser Aug. 17 includes brisket, pulled pork, ribs, slaw, beans, corn on the cob and desert. Live music by Big Fungus and silent/live auctions also are planned. Tickets are $15 at the door, or to purchase in advance, call 892-6097 or toll free (877) 560-8542.

For more information or to register, visit tlfhonorflight.org or contact Ron Travis at 892-6097 or Lynda at lyndastump@yahoo.com.