Helping to remember those left behind

For 27 years, Freedom Flight Inc. – a nonprofit based out of Minnesota – has raised awareness about servicemembers who’ve yet to return home by flying a POW-MIA hot air balloon across the world. The balloon has made appearances in 42 states and six different countries since its first mission.

Helping raise that awareness are American Legion posts in multiple states who serve as “sponsors” of the balloon and its mission. Luke Cesnik, Freedom Flight’s president and one of its pilots, said Legion support helps expand the balloon’s reach.

“There are American Legion posts all around, including some in Europe who have helped us get to two different countries: Belgium and France,” Cesnik said. “It really helps us get the word out about what we’re trying to do.”

Freedom Flight has received past support from posts in Minnesota, Maine and New Mexico, as well as from Morrison Hayes Post 702 in Wellsville, N.Y. For the past two years, Post 702 has sponsored the Freedom Flight balloon’s trip to The Great Wellsville Balloon Rally, joining dozens of other hot air balloons for the three-day event.

“We had a couple members who heard about (Freedom Flight) and who also knew a POW from the Vietnam War,” Post 702 Commander Brent Roberts said. “They originally wanted to do it to honor their friend. They brought it to my attention, and I thought it was a good idea.”

Roberts said that Post 702 will continue to sponsor the balloon as long as Freedom Flight wants to attend the Wellsville Balloon Rally. “I think it brings a lot of publicity to the POW-MIA issue,” he said. “A lot of people don’t know we still have POWs and MIAs, so it brings a lot of awareness to that.”

For more information on Freedom Flight, click here. To inquire about developing a relationship with Freedom Flight, email Cesnik at luke@freedomflight.org.