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Milwaukee veterans take flight in World War II-era biplane

By CNN

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    MILWAUKEE (WISN) — Eight Milwaukee-area veterans got the trip of a lifetime in a World War II-era biplane Thusday, thanks to the nonprofit Dream Flights.

One of those veterans: 87-year-old Wisconsin native and Army veteran Bernie Huizenga.

“I’ve been in small planes but never a biplane, never an open cockpit,” he told WISN 12 News. “I’m excited about it, quite interested in seeing this.”

The flight was organized by Dream Flights, a national nonprofit that provides free flights in military planes to veterans as a way to say thank you for their service.

Darryl Fisher, founder, president, and pilot of Dream Flights, described the emotional impact these flights have on veterans.

“Right before your eyes, you’ll see somebody go up at 85 or 90, and then in spirit, they’re in their twenties. It somehow invigorates them and gives them energy that they didn’t have before. And it’s just a beautiful thing,” Fisher said.

Fisher started Dream Flights in 2011, with Milwaukee-based Direct Supply providing the nonprofit’s initial funding.

“This really connects what we believe in, which is not only improving lives of America’s seniors but also getting out in the community and partnering with our customers,” said Matthew Koch of Direct Supply.

Since then, Dream Flights has provided more than 8,500 flights to veterans across the country.

“It never gets old. I have to pinch myself every morning when I get out of bed. I actually get to do this,” Fisher said.

Huizenga was the first veteran to take flight Thursday.

“I think it’s a wonderful idea. I’m really pleased to, honored to be chosen for this,” Huizenga said.

His smile after the flight said it all.

Dream Flights operates six planes and has nearly 20 pilots offering this opportunity nationwide.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Hawaii braces for new tropical threat as Big Island recovers from Lala’s deadly flooding

By CNN
(CNN) — Hawaii is eyeing a new tropical threat less than a week after deadly Hurricane Lala tore through parts of the islands.Tropical Depression Two-C was more than 700 miles southeast of the Big Island early Friday morning, local time, according to the National Hurricane Center.The depression is forecast to gradually strengthen into Tropical Storm Moke as soon as Friday and take a similar track as Lala toward Hawaii.But the new storm will likely be weaker than Lala and track further south when it makes its closest pass on Sunday, somewhat dampening its wind threat, but not its rain.Lala’s eyewall brushed the southern coast of the Big Island while its center was roughly 30 miles offshore. The latest forecast brings this new storm’s center 180 miles south of the Big Island as a tropical storm.The exact distance could fluctuate in the coming days as the system becomes better organized. Weather forecast models are still trying to get a grip on the system’s strength, which is a key factor in its final track.A stronger storm would track farther north, closer to the islands, while a weaker one would stay farther offshore. Confidence in the storm’s track and intensity should improve soon.While this storm isn’t expected to come as close to the Big Island, its rainfall could be just as dangerous — and fall on the same places flooded last weekend. This means it will take far less rainfall to trigger “life-threatening flooding and mudslides,” the hurricane center warned.Five to 10 inches of rain are expected on the Big Island, with up to 15 inches possible on the central and eastern slopes. Confidence is lower for Maui and the other islands, but generally lower totals of 1 to 4 inches are expected, with isolated amounts up to 5 inches possible.Rainfall will begin on the Big Island by late Saturday night or early Sunday, local time, spreading to the other islands later Sunday night into Monday.Hawaii still reeling from LalaHawaii is still deep in recovery after Lala dumped over 3 and a half feet of rain on the Big Island’s mountains, setting off devastating landslides and flash floods.A 93-year old woman died due to “storm-related injuries” on the Big Island last week, according to the Hawaii Police Department. Police are also investigating the death of a 60 year old man they believe may have been storm-related.Mud, water, rock and debris destroyed large parts of Naʻalehu, in the southern part of the Big Island, smothering some houses in mud up to 10 feet deep, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said in a news conference Thursday. Last week, Green said more than 100 homes were lost to Lala on the Big Island.Crews are still clearing downed trees and utility poles across the Big Island with thousands still without power, and roads washed away in floodwaters are just starting to be rebuilt.A team is also working to locate and secure human remains swept away from inundated cemeteries before the next storm hits, Major Gen. Stephen Logan, Adjutant General of the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Defense, said in Thursday’s news conference. The team had recovered over 60 remains Thursday, he said.The state is making plans to deal with more flooding, landslides and power outages by preparing supplies and hotel rooms for those who may be impacted by the storm, and monitoring water levels in the Wahiawa Dam, which rose more than 20 feet after Lala.Officials are urging residents in vulnerable areas to prepare now, as evacuation might be harder once the storm hits.“If you can leave a flood-prone area early, stay with friends or family, think about that now,” National Weather Service meteorologist John Bravender said. “So you can get ready for that before the rain starts this weekend.”The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
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