Three United States Army veterans will take to the skies above Georgetown, Texas, on 11 November 2025, as part of a special event celebrating their military service. Organised by Touchstone Communities in partnership with the non-profit Dream Flights, the event will see each veteran experience a 15-minute flight in a restored World War II-era Boeing Stearman biplane — the same model once used to train U.S. military aviators during the war.
Friends, family members and residents from across the Touchstone Communities network are invited to attend the ceremony, which is set to take place on Veterans Day. In the event of poor weather, the flights will be rescheduled to ensure the participants’ safety.
Honouring Those Who Served
Dream Flights, headquartered in Carson City, Nevada, was founded to “give back to those who gave”, providing elderly veterans and seniors with an experience that symbolises freedom, gratitude and remembrance. Each participant — known as a “Dream Flyer” — is treated to an open-cockpit adventure, soaring up to 1,000 feet above the ground in an aircraft meticulously restored to its wartime condition.
“The Dream Flight experience is pure magic,” said Dream Flights Founder Darryl Fisher. “I can’t think of a better way to thank our veterans for their service than by giving them an adventure they never thought possible at 70, 80, or 90 years old. Dream Flights proves you’re never too old to dream and you’re never too old to have fun.”
Following their flights, veterans receive a signed Dream Flights baseball cap from their pilot. Families then gather around the aircraft for photographs, capturing a shared moment of pride and joy. For World War II veterans, a further tradition continues — signing their names on the tail of the aircraft, a practice that began in 2021 during Dream Flights’ “Operation September Freedom” tour, the largest barnstorming event in U.S. history. Each veteran later receives a personalised certificate featuring their photograph in the cockpit.
Veterans to Be Recognised
The Georgetown event will honour three distinguished servicemen:
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Charles Wallace, a 73-year-old resident of Rosewood Heights, who served ten years in the Army National Guard, achieving the rank of E-4 during peacetime service.
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Richard Leech, a retired First Sergeant (E-8) and resident of Harker Heights Nursing and Rehabilitation, who spent 25 years in the Army, including service during the Vietnam War. His career extended to non-governmental operations in Iraq, Bosnia and Vietnam over a further ten years.
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Don Fender, aged 83, a Command Sergeant Major in the U.S. Army and family member of Touchstone’s Chief Operating Officer. A decorated Special Forces veteran, he completed parachute and medic training and earned numerous commendations, including the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars for combat service, the Combat Medical Badge, Royal Thai Army Parachutist Badge, Senior Paratrooper Wings, Jumpmaster Badge, Vietnamese Honour Medal 2nd Class and the Cross of Gallantry 2nd Class.
Pilots Who Share the Same Calling
Dream Flight pilots are themselves active duty or retired military personnel who volunteer their time and expertise. The organisation operates the largest fleet of restored and fully operational Stearman biplanes in the United States.
Touchstone Communities, based in Texas, provides skilled nursing, rehabilitation therapy and long-term care across 25 senior communities, including three Texas State Veterans Homes and one assisted living community. The organisation has built a strong reputation for delivering veteran-focused care and promoting quality of life for seniors.
“Touchstone is proud to stand alongside Dream Flights in celebrating the service and sacrifice of our veterans,” a company spokesperson said. “These events remind us of the values of courage, gratitude and community that continue to inspire us all.”
A Legacy That Continues to Soar
Since its founding in 2011, Dream Flights has provided more than 7,500 free flights to veterans and seniors in care homes across the United States. Its 2021 “Operation September Freedom” tour, spanning 61 days, reached 333 cities in 47 states, honouring 891 World War II veterans. The signature aircraft tails, covered in the handwritten names of these “Greatest Generation” heroes, remain a living tribute to their legacy.
For Touchstone Communities, the upcoming Georgetown event marks more than a celebration of history — it is a chance to bring generations together, connecting past and present through the shared thrill of flight.
More information about Touchstone Communities and its services can be found at www.touchstone-communities.com.
