TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Big Bend area veterans had the chance of a lifetime – to fly in a WWII-era biplane above Tallahassee. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s all part of a \u201cDream Flight\u201d sponsored by the Florida Healthcare Association. <\/p>\n
Five veterans took off from Tallahassee International Airport Friday morning. <\/p>\n
The veterans got an aerial tour of Doak Campbell Stadium, both university campuses, and the state capitol building. <\/p>\n
One of the veterans who flew on Friday was Sylvester Jackson, who joined the Army back in 1974. <\/p>\n
He reflected on his younger years before heading up in the plane. <\/p>\n
\u201cI went on a plane back in my youth days,\u201d Jackson said. <\/p>\n
Despite being the first vet to take to the skies, he wasn\u2019t nervous at all. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just not nervous,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m not afraid at all.\u201d <\/p>\n
The Florida Healthcare Association partnered with a group called Dream Flights to bring these folks from their care homes to the tarmac. <\/p>\n
\u201cI get tears in my eyes every time we watch a veteran go from their wheelchair up into the biplane,\u201d Emmett Reed, the CEO of the Florida Healthcare Association. \u201cThey get a beautiful 15-minute flight around Tallahassee.\u201d <\/p>\n
Reed said these flights are a special way to give back. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo, we make sure that we recognize not only our veterans that are in our care centers as residents or employees, but also their loved ones and their spouses. So, it\u2019s just a little way for us to say thank you,\u201d Reed said. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf everybody could just do a little bit to honor their veterans, I think the world will be a much better place,\u201d Reed continued. <\/p>\n
For more information on how you or a loved one might be able to get up into the sky for your own Dream Flight, visit this website. <\/a><\/p>\n To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, Nextdoor<\/a> <\/a>and X<\/a> (Twitter<\/a>).<\/p>\n Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here<\/a>. Please include the article\u2019s headline in your message.<\/p>\n Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here<\/a> to get started.<\/p>\n Copyright 2025 WCTV. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n