Army Veteran Lewis Peshlakai is all ready for liftoff during his experience with Dream Flights, a nonprofit that flies elderly veterans living in assisted living communities in a World War II-style plane for the experience of a lifetime.
Army Veteran Lewis Peshlakai is all ready for liftoff during his experience with Dream Flights, a nonprofit that flies elderly veterans living in assisted living communities in a World War II-style plane for the experience of a lifetime. Photo by Shawn White
Brian Corbett from Dream Flights speaks to Chester Dallas about his experience with the flight and his military services. Brian says that the organization performed their 7,318th flight since the organization started in 2011.
It takes a group effort from the Winslow Fire Department to help Dream Flights safely and easily raise and lower each veteran into the cockpit being careful not to cause harm.
It takes a group effort from the Winslow Fire Department to help Dream Flights safely and easily raise and lower each veteran into the cockpit being careful not to cause harm.

Dream Flights is a nonprofit that came to the Winslow-Lindbergh Regional Airport last Saturday to help six elderly veterans experience the thrill of flying again in a WWII-style plane. The organization partnered with the Winslow Campus of Care assisted living facility and the Arizona Healthcare Foundation to create a day that was both festive and deeply meaningful. Cathy Williams, CEO of Campus of Care and president of the Arizona Healthcare Foundation, was on hand to share why these former service members deserved every bit of the spotlight. “They may spend time with family at Easter or St. Patrick’s Day but today is all about them. They are the main event,” she said. She added, “Everyone deserves to feel special, and this makes them feel special.”

The event had originally been planned for last October, when the veterans were set to be driven to Chandler to take part. However, airspace issues in Phoenix forced a cancellation, so the day never took off. In a twist of good fortune, the event was able to be rescheduled for Winslow, bringing this celebration closer to home for the veterans. The change in plans made the gathering more personal and allowed more members of the local community to witness the occasion.

Five of the veterans who soared in the classic Boeing Stearman were Willie Benton Jr. from the Navy, and Army veterans William Singer, Lewis Peshlakai, Freddie Roan and Chester Dallas. Army veteran George