APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) – Navy veteran Jerry Jochman passed away in 2024; however, his impact was felt on Tuesday morning by his fellow veterans.
The Appleton native Jochman had a donation in his will that would pay for 200 veterans to take an ‘Honor Flight’ to Washington, D.C. to see memorials of servicemen and servicewomen.
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“This is something he definitely wanted to do,” Jochman’s sister Kathy Burkhardt said. “Jerry was so military-based, and this was something very important to him.”
The donation was about $100,000. Jochman had previously taken his father on an Honor Flight in 2014. That Honor Flight led him to the idea of putting a donation aside in his will so that other veterans could experience it after he passed.
Local 5 News was there on Tuesday evening when the honor flight sponsored by Jochman’s gift returned to Appleton International Airport. All four of his sisters were on the flight serving as chaperones for the veterans.
They told Local 5 News that it was unforgettable experience getting to retrace the steps of their brother on a trip that had such a positive impact on him.
There were 93 veterans on this honor flight. They returned to the airport to a heroes welcome. Dozens of people waiting and cheering, waving American flags, and thanking the vets for their service. Many held signs thanking Jochman for his gift.
“It’s awesome, there are wonderful people in this world, just wonderful people,” said Denise Butler whose brother was on the flight. “For him to do this and for Roger (here brother a Vietnam veteran) to be part of this and for us to be part of it I was with my niece today and was like we got to make a sign, we need to make a sign.”
