FORT SCOTT, Kan. — A large crowd of family, friends and well-wishers gathered at Fort Scott High School early Tuesday morning to send off the first-ever Fort Scott Honor Flight — 24 local veterans bound for a three-day trip to Washington, D.C.
The local group will be joined by 24 veterans from the Parsons area, bringing the total to 48. Each veteran is paired with a student companion, and eight staff members — including two medical personnel — will also accompany the group.
Fort Scott High School teacher Amy Harper- who was quick to credit her fellow Honor Flight board members and volunteers - spearheaded the project, which has been in active development since July 2025. Harper, the 2023 Kansas District 2 Teacher of the Year, first learned about the program during her recognition tour that year.
"Well, I had an opportunity to visit other school districts on my Teacher of the Year tour and there was a school district in Central Kansas that had an honor flight hub in their district and I wanted to bring that back to Fort Scott…" Harper said.
Leadership at the Parsons Honor Flight hub opened the door for a regional partnership, clearing the way for Fort Scott's first-ever Flight. Harper hopes to make the Flight an annual occurrence, using local fundraisers and community events to raise the necessary $60,000 each year.
The trip marks the very first time some of the local veterans will see the national monuments built in their honor.
"My wife and I talked about it but never did do it," said Chris Peacock, a U.S. Army veteran who served with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969.
Peacock noted that he is most looking forward to his visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
"See the wall," Peacock said of his top priority.
Peacock is paired with student companion Bryson Clark, who previously visited Washington on an eighth-grade class trip but said he wanted to experience the capital through a veteran's eyes.
"Just the experience," Clark said. "Just to see the veterans happy, just their experience. That's cool."
Uniontown area veteran Lafe Wilson, who served in the Navy from 1960 to 1964, is also eager to see the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
"Probably the Vietnam [veterans memorial]," Wilson said when asked what he looks forward to most.
Wilson previously visited Washington, D.C., on a lobbying trip with the Kansas Livestock Association, but said aside from Mount Vernon he had not had the opportunity to visit many of the memorials.
Alan Drake, who served in the Army from 1969 through 1971, has traveled to D.C. before but expects the Honor Flight to be a unique experience.
"We've been there with a group a couple of times, but haven't seen some of the memorials. I think this will be more inclusive of the memorials we're seeing," Drake said. "I think it'll be different because when we see it with a group of veterans that have been through various experiences, I think it'd be great and probably somewhat emotional."
Former Navy pilot Ralph Carlson, who served for 20 years from 1955 to 1975, frequently flew VIPs to the capital during his military career. Though he spent his off-duty hours exploring the Smithsonian and other sites back then, this trip represents a distinct milestone.
"Well, I've been to D.C. a lot. I used to fly a Navy airplane to D.C. a lot, but this will be my first Honor," Carlson said. "I can't believe they're honoring me."
Before the group departed for Kansas City International Airport, the Rev. Dusty Drake gathered veterans, students and emotional family members in a prayer for safety and joy.
"I pray that you will give them protection and that you would give them joy as they experience Washington," Drake said during the invocation. "I pray that the kids that are helping them would experience that same joy and God with you always, just as these days unfold, would you give them assurance that what they have done for our country is never forgotten."
The group is scheduled to return to Fort Scott High School at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, June 4.
