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Prestige Senior Living Residents Honored with Flights in Restored World War II Planes

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Almost 50 WWII veterans are taking flight on an iconic WWII aircraft this summer as part of a partnership between Prestige Senior Living and Dream Flights. Dream Flights is a non-profit organization that honors veterans with free flights in restored Boeing-Stearman Biplane to thank them for their selfless service. 

Two of Auburn’s veterans, Roy Climber and Darrell Campbell, took flight Aug 6 at Auburn Municipal Airport.

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Climber is a 95-year-old resident of Prestige Senior Living Auburn and served in the Army as a supply sergeant, after being drafted straight out of high school during World War II. 

Darrell Campbell sits in a restored biplane with a female smiling behind him
Darrell Campbell in a restored biplane. | Prestige Senior Living Auburn Meadows

Campbell (94) also served in the Army as an aircraft photographer, top security, and soldier transportation officer after being drafted in 1947.

This year, Operation September Freedom (OSF) is Dream Flights’ first mission to thank veterans who served in a particular war, in special memory of the 80th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.  

Residents from 18 Prestige Senior Living communities across Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington will be participating in a Dream Flight thanks to volunteer pilots. Many of the pilots fly for major airlines and are active duty or retired military veterans themselves who volunteer their time to fly veterans in the country’s largest fleet of restored and fully operational Stearman biplanes.

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Prestige living resident Roy Climber in a restored biplane
Roy Climber in a restored biplane |Prestige Senior Living Auburn Meadows

Harold Delamarter, founding partner and CEO of Prestige Care, is grateful for the opportunity of a lifetime it presents veteran residents. “At Prestige, we do all we can to enrich the lives of the seniors we serve. Partnering with Dream Flights is a chance for the Prestige family and our surrounding communities to offer a small gesture of gratitude to those who served our country,” Delamarter said. 

According to Dream Flights Founder Darryl Fisher, the tour name “Operation September Freedom” celebrates the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on Sept. 2, 1945, aboard USS Missouri, which effectively ended WWII. The organization has honored over 4,200 veterans and seniors living in long-term care communities since 2011 and expects to honor more than 1,000 WWII veterans during the 61-day OSF initiative.  

As part of its commitment to honoring veterans, for the remainder of 2021, Prestige Senior Living is proud to offer a special move-in offer to new residents who have served their country. Learn more at www.notyourgrandmasnursinghome.com. This article is not sponsored content. 

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The above information was provided by Prestige Senior Living. 

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