Eight residents of The Regent independent living residence to take part in Dream Flights

October 11th, 2018 | Press Releases

Honoring those who served in the military is something the team at The Regent, A Legend Senior Living residence, takes to heart. So the residence jumped at the chance to help some of its veteran residents take a dream flight with The Ageless Aviation Dreams Foundation (AADF).

 

Eight residents of The Regent in Wichita are going up on Dream Flights on Friday, Oct. 12, at Stearman Field in Benton, Kansas. Kylie Jefferis, Life Enrichment Coordinator at The Regent, is the driving force behind Legend’s efforts to arrange flights for the community’s residents. This is the second year in a row that Legend residents have gone up.

 

The AADF is a non-profit organization established and dedicated to honoring seniors and U.S. military veterans. The primary focus is on individuals living in long-term care residences and its mission is “to give back to those who have given.” Through donations, the AADF provides Dream Flights in a Boeing Stearman biplane, the same aircraft Charles Lindbergh flew to deliver mail and used to train many military aviators in the 1940s.

 

The residents who are flying this year are:

• Jack, 100, Army Air Corp. (repeat flyer, flying his Century Dream Flight)
• Ed, 93, Army
• Howard, 91, Navy
• Bob, 85, Army
• Bud, 83, has the utmost respect for our veterans and current military and has a passion for flying
• Clara, 83, has military family – brother, nephew and now granddaughter – greatly appreciative of our military past and present
• Betty, 83, husband was in the Army and she’s flying in his honor
• Betty, 91, has a passion for flying and great admiration for those who serve

 

The day will have a full schedule. Jefferis is working with the Kansas Honor Flight for an opening ceremony before the first flight. Family and friends will be present to cheer on their loved ones as they take flight. Lunch will be provided by Interim Healthcare flight crew, residents and volunteers at Stearman Field Bar and Grill in Benton, which offered use of its covered patio for the entire day free of charge.

 

Jefferis said that last year the, flyers’ reactions were indescribable. “There were tears, smiles, laughter and it was a truly humbling experience. It was even more emotional for the residents who flew, as most thought they would never fly again. The Regent is honored to give them this gift again as we know they – as well as their families and friends – will treasure it forever.”