Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By RICHARD JENKINS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On Wednesday, a group of 20 veterans will tandem skydive onto the front lawn of the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri, as part of the museum’s commemoration of Veterans Day. One of the jumpers is expected to be local veteran, Tom DeCarlo.
The “legacy jump” will kick of the museum’s Veterans Day activities and will feature veterans from the ages of 28 to 92, representing World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and Sept. 11.
DeCarlo, a Hurley native, served aboard the USS Thetis Bay in World War II and witnessed the formal Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay.
“We’re excited to host this special ‘legacy jump’ on Veterans Day,” said Matthew Naylor, the president and CEO of the museum. “We are proud to honor the men and women who sacrificed their lives for our country.”
The Bird’s Eye View Project, which promotional materials describes as an organization that uses extreme sports to raise funds and awareness for veteran and first responder charities, is organizing the jump
The jump is scheduled for 6:30 a.m.
Along with the jump, the museum and memorial will be holding a variety of events on Wednesday. This includes a free, public Veterans Day ceremony in the Memorial’s courtyard, a Walk of Honor dedication ceremony and a special outdoor performance by the Kansas City Symphony.