To thank those who bravely served our country, the Florida Health Care Association partnered with Dream Flights to honor several Tallahassee area veterans residing in area long-term care centers with an exhilarating flight in a World War II-era biplane.
On Friday, Oct. 31, at the Million Air FBO Tallahassee, Dream Flyers got to experience the freedom of soaring 1,000 feet in an iconic, open-cockpit biplane, the same aircraft used to train aviators during WWII.
The following veterans were able to participate:
Tallahassee veteran Earl Jones gets ready for his Dream Flights liftoff on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.
William Thomas “Tommy” Cook, Sr. (83), U.S. Army, Blountstown Health and Rehabilitation Center. Cook proudly served in the U.S. Army.
Earl Jones (70), U.S. Army, Miracle Hill Nursing and Rehabilitation in Tallahassee. Jones served in the 1st Cavalry 32nd sig in Germany for 36 months, then transferred to Fort Hood, Texas. His Military Occupational Specialty was switchboard operator and telephone installer.
Kelvin Pittman (65), U.S. Army, Miracle Hill Nursing and Rehabilitation in Tallahassee. Pittman served in the 4th Infantry Mechanized at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs. His Military Occupational Specialty was 76 Delta.
Ralph Yeager (92), U.S. Air Force, Robert H. Jenkins Jr. Veterans Domiciliary in Lake City. Yeager served in the Air Force for three years, first assigned to kitchen detail and later assigned to the motor pool as a vehicle operator. Yeager was an Airman 1st class when he discharged.
Janet DiSilva (90), U.S. Army, Robert H. Jenkins Jr. Veterans Domiciliary in Lake City. DiSilva served in the US Army from 1956 to 1959, achieving the rank of Specialist 5th class (Sargeant). She was a Women’s Army Corps member, working as a nurse, serving a time at Letterman Hospital.
Sylvester Jackson (69), U.S. Army, PruittHealth Southwood in Tallahassee. Jackson enjoyed his service to our country.
Veteran Tommy Cook of Blountstown takes off on his Dream Flights trip on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.
Non-profit Dream Flights’ mission is giving back to those who gave. Since 2011, the nonprofit has landed in 49 states to honor veterans and seniors living in long-term care communities with free flights in restored WWII-era biplanes, the same aircraft used to train aviators in the 1940s.
The organization relies on corporate sponsors, donors and individual donations to support its mission of giving back to those who gave. Tax-deductible donations and sponsorship opportunities are available at https://bit.ly/4dXOLBr.
Florida Health Care Association sponsored the Dream Flights and photo includes FHCA CEO Emmett Reed.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Dream Flights takes Tallahassee veterans up in the air