Testimonials - Elevate Our Vets

Testimonials

Donald Dawson

Car Don Dawson. I flew P-3's & C-130's for Navy for 22 years. I retired in 1991 & have not flown for 20 years until Scotty took me up 6/8/19 for an AMAZING 45 min flight. What a wonderful program you have for vets. I am happy to pay it forward so someone else can […]

Phil Reed IV

“Scotty, I was in absolute awe of your graceful performance in the Pitts last Saturday at the Celebration of Flight Airshow at Caldwell. It was the first time I had seen you do an aerobatic routine in any plane and it was truly magnificent. It’s obvious watching you that you have an amazing connection to […]

Catherine L. Owens

My name is Catherine L. Owens and I recently had the honor and privilege of taking a flight with Scotty Crandlemire with Elevate Our Vets. I work in the Senior Living industry and with The Alzheimer’s Association and over the years have worked with many families and individuals who are impacted by Alzheimer’s and other Dementia’s, Scotty’s family being one of them. It has been my desire to help raise awareness about this disease as well as the resources available to individuals and families currently impacted. With June being National Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness month, I wanted to do something that would help bring some light to this devastating disease. Alzheimer’s is the number 1 feared disease among Americans so in honor of all those that are facing the fear of Alzheimer’s, I would face one of mine…. The fear of small planes.

Dick Dial

“I served in the US Army from late 1963 to late 1965 with the 1st Brigade 101st Airborne (Paratrooper) Division and had one tour in Vietnam. Programs like Elevate our Veterans that reach out to help share recognition to our active or retired service members is a genuine good cause. As an active pilot, it has that much more meaning to me, as so many Veterans never got to have the experience of “flight”. Way to go! Thanks, J. R. (Dick) Dial

Garrett Acuff

James Anthony Alger

Born 3-24-1949 Passed 3-11-2016

“It was a BIG surprise! I was asked because being terminal with cancer, was there anything I wanted to do. I said I wanted to fly but never thought this would come true. In the surprise, they (the VA and his case worker Will Mello) just got me out of my room and took me for a ride, next thing was… Surprise, we were at the airport. After getting all loaded up, off we went. Scotty gave me the controls and I got to fly!” “For those who have never flown, it is the most freeing feeling in your life. Nothing compares to the freedom of being away from the earth and just enjoying being there. You can’t describe it, you just have to be there” I really, really, appreciated it. And I think the other Vets will as well. The idea of being up there, and being able to go, would be a BIG, BIG happy thing to the guys (our Vets). You will have a really BIG line…. Pick me, pick me!!!”

Lee Roberson

Lee Roberson got a thrill last week when he flew over his childhood home in Wilder. Roberson, 61, a former helicopter pilot for the U.S. Air Force, hadn’t been up in a private plane for at least 10 years. He hadn’t flown by himself for two decades since losing his pilot’s license due to a disability that left him confined to a wheelchair. He resides at the Idaho State Veterans Home, 320 Collins Road in Boise. “My dad loved to fly and losing his pilot’s license to his disability was really tough for him,” daughter Chelsea Tuttle said. “Having the opportunity to not just go up in a plane again, but to take over the controls and fly over his home — where he used to do flyovers when he was stationed at Mountain Home — was absolutely priceless.” Meridian pilot Scotty Crandlemire took Roberson up Wednesday in the initial flight for a program entitled Elevate Our Veterans. Crandlemire began flying in 1984, when he was stationed with the Air Force in England.

William B. Mello Jr

My name is William B. Mello Jr. I am a Case Manager. I would like to tell you a little bit about my experience with the amazing program called: “ELEVATE OUR VETS”. I am being honest when saying there are not enough words to describe the greatness in this program and what it has done for not only the veterans that have already received the gift of flight, but what it has done for me as an individual and a veteran.

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