SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Midwest Honor Flight Mission 15 is in Washington, D.C. Wednesday.
There are 83 veterans honored on this trip. 47 are from South Dakota, 25 are from Iowa, 10 are from Minnesota and 1 is from Nebraska.
73 served in the Vietnam War era, 9 in the Korean War era and 1 in the WWII era.
This flight is a special one since it was made possible by 15-year-old Elsie Van Beek who raised $70,000 for the flight.
Vietnam veterans at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Mission 15 of Midwest Honor Flight. Sen. John Thune joined the group at the memorial. 
There are 83 veterans on Mission 15. 47 are from South Dakota, 25 are from Iowa, 10 are from Minnesota and 1 is from Nebraska. 
There are 83 veterans on Mission 15. 47 are from South Dakota, 25 are from Iowa, 10 are from Minnesota and 1 is from Nebraska. 
Elsie Van Beek, whose fundraising has fueled this Mission 15. She has raised more than $75k for it. The 15-year-old has sponsored the trip; the mission is called “Elsie Honors” 
The Marine Corps War Memorial, just across the Potomac from DC 
The Marine Corps War Memorial, just across the Potomac from DC 
95-year-old Gerry Lange of the Madison, SD area is on board Wednesday’s trip. He served in the US Army in the World War II era. 
KELOLAND’S Dan Santella is joining the veterans on their trip to the nation’s capital.
To follow along, connect with Dan Santella on social media:
The group was welcomed to DC by Senator Mike Rounds.
The group’s first stop of the day was the Marine Corps War Memorial.
The next stop of the day was the Arlington National Cemetery
During a stop at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the group was joined by Sen. John Thune of South Dakota.
We’ll have full coverage of the trip later this week, on KELOLAND TV.
