GREENVILLE (WLUK) — Dozens of Wisconsin veterans returned home to their families and friends Sunday afternoon, after a 4-day trip to New York City.
It was part of the ‘Missions of Honor: Freedom to Liberty’ flight designed to help support the personal healing of veterans.
When the 72 veterans of the Global War on Terror stepped off their plane at Appleton’s Flight Center, a crowd was eager to see them.
Stephen Schuldes with his 2-year-old son, Aug. 30, 2026. (WLUK/Don Steffen)
“I was able to spot my 2-year-old who was running up to me, you know, and you haven’t a seen him in a couple of days and it’s just like, it is such a heartwarming welcome for everybody,” said Stephen Schuldes, U.S. Marine Corps ’09-’16.
It’s a wellness retreat focused on reflection, connection, and healing. It’s part of the Missions of Honor organization headed up by Diane MacDonald.
“It’s about giving our veterans an opportunity to heal, to bond with each other, to find their reason why and why they served in the first place. It is a home run and we just love doing this retreat,” said MacDonald.
One of 72 veterans who returned from ‘Missions of Honor: Freedom to Liberty’ hugs his family, Aug. 30, 2026. (WLUK/Don Steffen)
According to a Department of Veterans Affairs report released earlier this year, in 2023 an average of more than 17 veterans committed suicide per day. The yearly total of 6,398 was 44 fewer than in 2022.
“I’ve always found it easier to open up to people who have gone through similar experiences. It’s not always the easiest to talk to a therapist or somebody that doesn’t understand being deployed or a veteran experience,” said Schuldes.
MacDonald says each trip brings unexpected stories. This year it was at the Empty Sky Memorial, when a veteran noticed the name of a family member who died at the World Trade Center
“He had never seen it before and as you can imagine how emotional that is. What I love to see happen was that his comrades, the other veterans, surrounded him, they supported him as he saw this and experienced it,” said MacDonald.
“You see everybody else that steps up to him, checking on him, making sure that he’s okay, allow him to go through the things that he needs to go through and just be there for him, just to listening to him,” said Schuldes.
Schuldes says the experience changed him. He added, with his family and friends, he’s ready to tackle the challenges in front of him.