A local veteran in hospice care at The Cottages had the chance to take to the skies one last time Friday afternoon, surrounded by family before and after his journey.

Harris Van Kooten, a U.S. Air Force veteran who served during the Korean War, was scheduled to go on an Honor Flight in October but his health didn’t allow it, according to his family. Over the past several weeks, he has since further declined, and has been admitted to hospice care through Wesleylife.

His nurse Kelsey Pothoven had heard Harris discuss how disappointed he was being unable to take the trip, so she helped organize a program and mini-flight, which included a pinning ceremony with all of his children and their families present. Pilot Dave Jensen donated his time to take Harris over some landmarks important in his lifetime via helicopter, including his farm by Searsboro and other locations for nearly an hour. The project was made possible in part through the “Wish Upon Wesley” at WesleyLife hospice.

Hear more from the Van Kooten family and Pothoven about an afternoon to remember at the link below:
https://www.kniakrls.com/2021/11/22/lets-talk-pella-final-flight-for-air-force-veteran/