If you thought the Olympics were a test of strength and endurance, you’ve never seen Pulling for Honor.
In the annual event, teams compete to see who can pull a FedEx cargo plane 12 feet in the fastest time. Money raised from the competition give veterans a free- of-charge flight to Washington D.C. to visit war memorials erected in their honor.
Pulling for Honor is a fundraiser for the Old Glory Honor Flight and will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 17 at the Appleton Flight Center located off Prospect Avenue west of the Appleton airport.
Teams of 20 people competes to see who can pull the plane the fastest. This year 30 teams are registered to compete, and each team is required to raise a minimum of $1,500 in order to take part in the competition ($75 per person). Last year, participants and sponsors raised $170,000.
The family-friendly event is open to the public with free admission and free parking, but donations are welcome. In addition to competing teams, the event features:
- Children’s plane pull, face painting and a bouncy house
- Airfare giveaway – ATW will be giving away two pairs of Allegiant tickets; all event attendees can enter.
- A wide variety of food trucks featuring sweet and savory treats.
- Veteran’s exhibits (providing vital information regarding services available for veterans in the community).
“We are honored to be a long-term partner of the Old Glory Honor Flight to show our support for area veterans and our passion for aviation,” said Abe Weber, airport director. “We believe in the power of community support and the positive impact it can have on the lives of veterans.”
The Appleton International Airport is home base for Old Glory Honor Flight and to date has assisted with the nonprofit with 69 Honor Flights. Old Glory Honor Flight organizes five honor flights annually, . Each Old Glory Honor Flight costs approximately $100,000 and honors 100 veterans.
“The community response to our mission has been overwhelming,” said Diane MacDonald, executive director of Old Glory Honor Flight. “As of this year, we have given over 6,400 veterans and their guardian escorts the ability to visit their memorials and be celebrated for the service they gave our country.”
MacDonald adds the event is not just for fundraising, but connects the community with veterans, their needs, and understanding the impact of their service.
